Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic
Indeed, a very interesting question asked by Robert Nagle over at TeleRead: If you had the chance to decide among two similar e-reader devices, of which only one supports DRM content, which device would you pick? Any reason to pick the device that does not support DRM?
Make sure to also check out the readers' comments @ TeleRead... some good answers there! |
Do I dislike DRM for ebooks as now implemented? Yes. I believe there needs to be a true DRM standard (an open standard that was adopted by most publishers AND reader providers) that permitted us to read the book on ANY reader product. If that were true I woud ACCEPT the need for DRM and LIVE WITH IT. I do not understand the technology that would be necessary to have an open standard implemented across all platforms and products AND still "protect" an author's IP. Maybe it is too difficult to happen in our competitive world.
I would support a DRM standard that permitted end users to loan their ebook to a friend without loaning their reader to the friend (maybe giving up the ability to read the ebook themself while it was ON LOAN). The standard would need to support the public lending library approach where the ebook would be lent for a limited period administered by the library. The DRM standard would allow non-commercial developers to create software readers that ran on general purpose devices PCs, PDAs, Web-based environments...
I'm sure that forum members could add many additional requirements to my thin list. Moreover, I would not be surprised if some forum members could build reference implementations in HW or SW. Maybe a system that uses an approach like the GMS telephone's SIM card would work. The SIM card would be usable in any reader or with general purpose type devices.The SIM might carry the token that provided the Digital Rights but I'm getting in too deep for my limited technical understanding-
Maybe Adobe will be able to make a system happen that is open but alows SW companies such as Adobe to make superior implementations that bring them revenue. It seems as the PDF "standard" for document rendering is open. I see many non-Adobe products to create, edit and read pdf files. Do they violated Adobe's IP? If not maybe Adobe's Digital( don't recall the correct name) initiative will lead to something workable.
I trust I have made many statements that will be cannon fodder for forum comments. Go to it-please.