Is Kobo getting rid of DRM?

John Carroll · 12-15-2011, 06:35 PM

I've been watching my books on Kobo the last few days for a price change I made. Today I noticed that some of my books were now DRM free! It's the newer ones that have recently been shipped. (I distribute there through Smashwords)

Has anyone else noticed this change? It seems to me that all of them were DRM before.

ATDrake · 12-15-2011, 06:41 PM

More likely they're finally responding to people's complaints about books from publishers who've made a commitment to DRM-free when possible (Carina Press, etc.) having their books auto-DRMed when they hit the Kobo store.

But yeah, it's a step in the right direction and hopefully they offer DRM-free out of the box as a publishing option from now on.

digiSara · 12-16-2011, 10:51 AM

I've noticed that some books say:

Download options: EPUB | Adobe DRM EPUB

and others say

Download options: Adobe DRM EPUB

In my library, the first type then say "Download EPUB" (with no Adobe DRM option) while the second type say "Download Adobe DRM EPUB"

Are the ones that just say "EPUB" DRM free? How would one tell?

Barbara1955 · 12-16-2011, 11:07 AM

Wish ALL eBooks were DRM Free! Once you buy them You should beable to put them on the eReader of Your Choice! DRM is Dumb!

John Carroll · 12-16-2011, 06:23 PM

I just checked again today. All of my books are now available on Kobo and all of them have DRM free versions.

@Katie1, It really would be nice if all eBooks were DRM free.

PeterT · 12-16-2011, 08:54 PM

John; my experience is that regardless of the text on the web-site, downloading either a book labelled as "EPUB | Adobe DRM EPUB" with the button next to it "Download EPUB" or "Adobe DRM EPUB" with the button "ADOBE DRM EPUB" both result in an ACSM file being downloaded, and a protected ePub being downloaded.

John Carroll · 12-16-2011, 09:38 PM

It is now saying:

Download options:
EPUB (DRM-Free)

taming · 12-16-2011, 09:57 PM

You should be able to download the file to the location of your choice and then import it into Calibre as a drm free epub or to drag and drop it onto your device (if Nook supports that).

PeterT · 12-16-2011, 10:21 PM

John; could you tell us the book (or books) you are seeing that on please.

SF&F Reader · 12-16-2011, 10:54 PM

Search for "John H. Carroll"

PeterT · 12-16-2011, 11:11 PM

I did,... and I don't see "EPUB (DRM-Free)"

SF&F Reader · 12-16-2011, 11:22 PM

It's not on the button but in the description. The button will actually show 'Download Epub'. Some duplicate listings of his books still show Adobe DRM.

dmacmart · 12-17-2011, 12:07 AM

I wonder if it's a geographical difference? In Canada I only get the ACSM option for The Emo Bunny. (Not sure if I should read it because it's not for normal children and I think I'm a normal child - well I was, once ...)

PeterT · 12-17-2011, 12:31 AM

Finally I find one! "Attack of the Sugar Plum Fairies, A Story for Demented Children"

Of course, when I click the option to download from "I'm Reading" it downloads a ZIP file! (And yes.. I know that an ePub IS a renamed zip but.....).

digiSara · 12-17-2011, 09:06 AM

Strangely I can't find any of the OP's books at all when I search - either by name or by book title. They show up under the search options when you start typing in the box, but not in the results.

12-15-2011, 06:35 PM	#1
John Carroll kookoo Posts: 1,461 Karma: 7772454 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook, LG4	Is Kobo getting rid of DRM? I've been watching my books on Kobo the last few days for a price change I made. Today I noticed that some of my books were now DRM free! It's the newer ones that have recently been shipped. (I distribute there through Smashwords) Has anyone else noticed this change? It seems to me that all of them were DRM before.

12-16-2011, 11:22 PM	#12
SF&F Reader Groupie Posts: 150 Karma: 100855 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Blackberry Playbook, Samsung Galaxy SII HD LTE	It's not on the button but in the description. The button will actually show 'Download Epub'. Some duplicate listings of his books still show Adobe DRM. Last edited by SF&F Reader; 12-16-2011 at 11:27 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kobo, Ubuntu, DRM - problems everywhere	dafrizz	Kobo Reader	13	09-30-2011 05:07 AM
DRM-free at Kobo?	Hatgirl	General Discussions	18	08-21-2011 10:23 AM
DRM books from Calibre to Kobo blank	KMvBC	Devices	8	07-08-2011 08:17 PM
DRM protected book from Kobo	rewind	Sony Reader	4	04-10-2010 05:35 PM
Apple to get rid of DRM??	Alfy	News	13	01-07-2009 10:45 AM

12-15-2011, 06:41 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	More likely they're finally responding to people's complaints about books from publishers who've made a commitment to DRM-free when possible (Carina Press, etc.) having their books auto-DRMed when they hit the Kobo store. But yeah, it's a step in the right direction and hopefully they offer DRM-free out of the box as a publishing option from now on.

12-16-2011, 10:51 AM	#3
digiSara Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 153344 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo wifi	I've noticed that some books say: Download options: EPUB \| Adobe DRM EPUB and others say Download options: Adobe DRM EPUB In my library, the first type then say "Download EPUB" (with no Adobe DRM option) while the second type say "Download Adobe DRM EPUB" Are the ones that just say "EPUB" DRM free? How would one tell?

12-16-2011, 11:07 AM	#4
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Wish ALL eBooks were DRM Free! Once you buy them You should beable to put them on the eReader of Your Choice! DRM is Dumb!

12-16-2011, 06:23 PM	#5
John Carroll kookoo Posts: 1,461 Karma: 7772454 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook, LG4	I just checked again today. All of my books are now available on Kobo and all of them have DRM free versions. @Katie1, It really would be nice if all eBooks were DRM free.

12-16-2011, 08:54 PM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,327 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	John; my experience is that regardless of the text on the web-site, downloading either a book labelled as "EPUB \| Adobe DRM EPUB" with the button next to it "Download EPUB" or "Adobe DRM EPUB" with the button "ADOBE DRM EPUB" both result in an ACSM file being downloaded, and a protected ePub being downloaded.

12-16-2011, 09:38 PM	#7
John Carroll kookoo Posts: 1,461 Karma: 7772454 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook, LG4	It is now saying: Download options: EPUB (DRM-Free)

12-16-2011, 09:57 PM	#8
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	You should be able to download the file to the location of your choice and then import it into Calibre as a drm free epub or to drag and drop it onto your device (if Nook supports that).

12-16-2011, 10:21 PM	#9
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,327 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	John; could you tell us the book (or books) you are seeing that on please.

12-16-2011, 10:54 PM	#10
SF&F Reader Groupie Posts: 150 Karma: 100855 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Blackberry Playbook, Samsung Galaxy SII HD LTE	Search for "John H. Carroll"

12-16-2011, 11:11 PM	#11
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,327 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I did,... and I don't see "EPUB (DRM-Free)"

Advert

Advert

12-17-2011, 12:07 AM	#13
dmacmart Fanatic Posts: 534 Karma: 696908 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Glo, Arc, H2O, iPhone, iPad 2, (husband)Touch	I wonder if it's a geographical difference? In Canada I only get the ACSM option for The Emo Bunny. (Not sure if I should read it because it's not for normal children and I think I'm a normal child - well I was, once ...)

12-17-2011, 12:31 AM	#14
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,327 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Finally I find one! "Attack of the Sugar Plum Fairies, A Story for Demented Children" Of course, when I click the option to download from "I'm Reading" it downloads a ZIP file! (And yes.. I know that an ePub IS a renamed zip but.....).

12-17-2011, 09:06 AM	#15
digiSara Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 153344 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo wifi	Strangely I can't find any of the OP's books at all when I search - either by name or by book title. They show up under the search options when you start typing in the box, but not in the results.