How can you tell if it has DRM?

wvcherrybomb · 11-27-2010, 09:01 PM

I've read many times on this forum that people should "vote with their wallets" by not buying content with DRM. How does one tell this before purchase? I have Kindle so really just need to know about Amazon.

ATDrake · 11-27-2010, 09:26 PM

Look at the Product Details on the book's page.

If it says "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited", then it will be a DRM-free book. If it doesn't say anything, then it will have DRM. If it has a Simultaneous Device Usage but it gives a number of licenses, then it will have DRM.

Some examples:

1) Amazon's freebie version of Pride & Prejudice which is in its Free Bestsellers list. Says SDU:Unlimited, so no DRM, and you can "purchase" and download/transfer it to check.

2) A freebie Harlequin NASCAR romance that has been a promo for over a year now. No mention of any SDU, and it's DRM-ed if you download it.

3) A "free" preview chapter that's a glorified sample that some publishers sneakily put up to boost the sales rank on the full book. SDU info says "Up to 5 simultaneous devices" and should you download this, it will be DRM-ed, unlike a regular sample.

Hope this helps.

desertgrandma · 11-27-2010, 09:46 PM

Well, its an admirable intention, however if you want any mainstream book published by an established author, you WILL have to have drm.

Even libraries books are drm'd....

Unless you go to the darkside.

Now, that being said, if you buy the book, and it has drm, there is always the possiblity of de-lousing it.

wvcherrybomb · 11-27-2010, 10:24 PM

ATDrake:

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me such a great answer!

desertgrandma:

Yeah, I kind of figured that was the case but I was mostly just curious.

I AM on my way to the darkside so that I can back up clean copies of my purchases and read library books on my Kindle. I've done a bit of reading on the subject but have quite a bit to learn.

Krystian Galaj · 11-28-2010, 10:06 AM

To back up clean copies of your purchases you might just remove the drm instead. calibre with plugins from Apprentice Alf's blog should do it automatically if you import your purchase into such calibre. (and afaik such backing up is legal in US, as opposed to downloading Darknet material)

wvcherrybomb · 11-28-2010, 12:32 PM

11-27-2010, 09:01 PM	#1
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	How can you tell if it has DRM? I've read many times on this forum that people should "vote with their wallets" by not buying content with DRM. How does one tell this before purchase? I have Kindle so really just need to know about Amazon.

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11-27-2010, 09:26 PM	#2
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Look at the Product Details on the book's page. If it says "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited", then it will be a DRM-free book. If it doesn't say anything, then it will have DRM. If it has a Simultaneous Device Usage but it gives a number of licenses, then it will have DRM. Some examples: 1) Amazon's freebie version of Pride & Prejudice which is in its Free Bestsellers list. Says SDU:Unlimited, so no DRM, and you can "purchase" and download/transfer it to check. 2) A freebie Harlequin NASCAR romance that has been a promo for over a year now. No mention of any SDU, and it's DRM-ed if you download it. 3) A "free" preview chapter that's a glorified sample that some publishers sneakily put up to boost the sales rank on the full book. SDU info says "Up to 5 simultaneous devices" and should you download this, it will be DRM-ed, unlike a regular sample. Hope this helps.

11-27-2010, 09:46 PM	#3
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Well, its an admirable intention, however if you want any mainstream book published by an established author, you WILL have to have drm. Even libraries books are drm'd.... Unless you go to the darkside. Now, that being said, if you buy the book, and it has drm, there is always the possiblity of de-lousing it.

11-27-2010, 10:24 PM	#4
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	ATDrake: Thank you so much for taking the time to give me such a great answer! desertgrandma: Yeah, I kind of figured that was the case but I was mostly just curious. I AM on my way to the darkside so that I can back up clean copies of my purchases and read library books on my Kindle. I've done a bit of reading on the subject but have quite a bit to learn.

11-28-2010, 10:06 AM	#5
Krystian Galaj Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 11012 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Warsaw, Poland Device: Bookeen Cybook	To back up clean copies of your purchases you might just remove the drm instead. calibre with plugins from Apprentice Alf's blog should do it automatically if you import your purchase into such calibre. (and afaik such backing up is legal in US, as opposed to downloading Darknet material)

11-28-2010, 12:32 PM	#6
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)

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