Copyright issue on DRM-Free epub

[HFM1101]

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's possible to remove copyright restrictions on already DRM-free epubs? I have a book that I have in epub and because I have some information processing issues I want to be able to copy and paste a few pages at a time and run it through a text-to-speech program. But whenever I try to do this (and no matter where I try to paste it to) I get a small amount of text (a few paragraphs) pasted but followed by a script written by the publisher to say that they have restrictions for allowing such. I'm quite surprised as I didn't realise that could be possible with DRM-free. Does anyone know if there is something I can do within Calibre (or anything else for that matter) to remove this prohibition?

Thanks. HFM

[Karellen]

Can't you open the epub in an editor and copy the text?

[DNSB]

DRM free does not mean copyright free. You can quote small portions of a copyrighted book for review purposes but trying to convert the entire book to an audio file is not something that any business that wants to continue operating will do. Copyright is not removable though it can be transferred, it is the rights the creator has in their creation.

At one time, you could use a calibre plugin to convert an ebook to mp3 using the TTS to MP3 but I have never used that plugin nor do I know the current status of that plugin.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by HFM1101

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's possible to remove copyright restrictions on already DRM-free epubs? I have a book that I have in epub and because I have some information processing issues I want to be able to copy and paste a few pages at a time and run it through a text-to-speech program. But whenever I try to do this (and no matter where I try to paste it to) I get a small amount of text (a few paragraphs) pasted but followed by a script written by the publisher to say that they have restrictions for allowing such. I'm quite surprised as I didn't realise that could be possible with DRM-free. Does anyone know if there is something I can do within Calibre (or anything else for that matter) to remove this prohibition?

Thanks. HFM

Which operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux), and which version of calibre (latest is 7.20)?

Where are you doing the copy - the viewer, the editor, the device?

BR

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by HFM1101

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's possible to remove copyright restrictions on already DRM-free epubs?

That's meaningless.
1) Only time removes copyright restrictions.
2) DRM is nothing to do with copyright.
3) Any physical or electronic restriction on usage is a form of DRM, not actually copyright, as likely it doesn't expire.

Copyright means only the publisher has the right to distribute (free or paid or loan).

If there are any electronic restrictions, then that's DRM. Copyright only adds legal restrictions, not physical ones. Makes no difference if print on paper or an electronic file.

DRM stands for Digital Rights Management and that's a misnomer, it's actually simply restrictions on use. See HDCP on HDMI or "copy bit" set on digital optical transfers, or Sony's mangling of Minidisc access.

But whenever I try to do this (and no matter where I try to paste it to) I get a small amount of text (a few paragraphs) pasted but followed by a script written by the publisher to say that they have restrictions for allowing such.

Then it's not DRM free, or you are using an ereader with DRM built in. Does the operation fail with a PD ebook from Gutenberg? If so it's built in DRM on your gadget or program.

[Quoth]

Additionally:
If a file is DRM free, then the ONLY difference between a copyright ebook and a public domain one is the copyright notice or status. Copyright restrictions on a DRM free file or ebook are purely moral/legal, not operational. There is no physical limits on copy/paste of a copyright DRM free file. Any limit is artificial in your viewer or gadget if the file is DRM free.

Copyright is purely a legal and moral concept. A program from an ebook vendor used as a viewer will likely apply artificial limits, which will be applied even to content you create or public domain content.

[Deskisamess]

Why not use the Accessibility options offered by iDevices or Androids for text to speech? I use this on my iPhone to have it read the book to me when I'm cooking etc. It's much improved, and you have voice choices. I use Siri Voice 4 Enhanced most often. It works in the Kindle app, or the Books app

[Quoth]

Pocketbook on Android works best. Many stop at the end of each page.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Pocketbook on Android works best. Many stop at the end of each page.

Using this with the Books app on my iPhone, it stops at the end of each chapter and has to be restarted. With the Kindle app, it only stops if I stop it, and the occasional glitch.

It doesn't work if the book is set for "scrolling" and not "page turns."

[DNSB]

I checked with one online site that does AI based text to speech. When you send them text, it is checked to see if it is copyrighted text. If so, you will get the treatment that the OP complained about. If it's not copyrighted, you can get up to a couple of minutes of speech with their free service.

The site was not forthcoming as to which service(s) they use to check for copyrighted text or much of any other interesting information.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I checked with one online site that does AI based text to speech. When you send them text, it is checked to see if it is copyrighted text. If so, you will get the treatment that the OP complained about. If it's not copyrighted, you can get up to a couple of minutes of speech with their free service.

The site was not forthcoming as to which service(s) they use to check for copyrighted text or much of any other interesting information.

According to Penguin, a site like this should not know about their books. So it should not know if a recent books is in copyright or not.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

According to Penguin, a site like this should not know about their books. So it should not know if a recent books is in copyright or not.

Jon, perhaps you should wake up and smell the coffee before posting? Even a simple Google search will come up with the source of a chunk of text rather reliably. None of which requires a book to be assimilated by an AI LLM.

For instance, try a search on "The kitchen was all chrome and tile and looked like no one had ever cooked a meal in it." or "The noise got louder and louder, piercing eardrums. Some of those in the process of getting up lay back down, covering their ears."

For the site I looked at, the "AI" is more to do with improving the spoken text by adding inflections to "humanize" the results.

[gbm]

That is an epub with Java Script in it. Open the epub in the calibre editor and delete all *.js files. Then do an epub to epub conversation with the following placed in Search and Replace.

<script(.*?)>[^>]+>]]>

bernie

Originally Posted by HFM1101

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's possible to remove copyright restrictions on already DRM-free epubs? I have a book that I have in epub and because I have some information processing issues I want to be able to copy and paste a few pages at a time and run it through a text-to-speech program. But whenever I try to do this (and no matter where I try to paste it to) I get a small amount of text (a few paragraphs) pasted but followed by a script written by the publisher to say that they have restrictions for allowing such. I'm quite surprised as I didn't realise that could be possible with DRM-free. Does anyone know if there is something I can do within Calibre (or anything else for that matter) to remove this prohibition?

Thanks. HFM

[theducks]

Modify EPUB plugin can remove the JS stuff

[slm]

Originally Posted by DNSB

J Even a simple Google search will come up with the source of a chunk of text rather reliably.

The first one I tried it on--a short sentence ("A wave of worry and guilt rolled over her.") found no results. This is from a 2024 book available on Kindle Unlimited. I don't think this method is reliable.