Converting ebooks to mobi format - invalidate warranty?

copyrite · 12-30-2010, 05:10 PM

I was reading somewhere outside this forum where someone indicated (at least by my interpretation of what she wrote) that putting non-DRM'd mobi books on a Kindle voids its warranty. Is this the case? And does this mean anything I convert via Calibre to a Kindle compatible format is invalidating my warranty? Or am I reading too much into this? (I don't have posting ability where I read this to ask).

Thanks for any input.

HarryT · 12-30-2010, 05:12 PM

Certainly not. You can put any content that you wish onto your Kindle.

copyrite · 12-30-2010, 05:18 PM

Maybe the person means it's an issue with mobi books that have had DRM removed and then put on another Kindle? That doesn't make sense though.

rcuadro · 12-30-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copyrite

Maybe the person means it's an issue with mobi books that have had DRM removed and then put on another Kindle? That doesn't make sense though.

Removing DRM may bring some legal issues but you can put what you want on the Kindle and the device warranty is still valid. Heck, Amazon even tells you where to get other books that are not from Amazon that you can read on your kindle

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link...d_i=1286228011

Jailbreaking your kindle though voids the warranty

bhartman36 · 12-30-2010, 05:38 PM

I would reiterate what rcuadro said. You can put any content you want on your Kindle that works with it. And as far as the warranty's concerned, you can convert any content in Calibre and then load it on to your Kindle. (Stripping DRM brings in legal questions, but it would have nothing to do with your warranty.) Now, if you were to load software on to your Kindle that let you read another format natively, that might invalidate your warranty (if they discovered it), but as long as you restrict your tinkering to outside of the Kindle itself, you should be safe.

copyrite · 12-30-2010, 05:48 PM

It wouldn't be me that stripped the DRM, it would just be me that uploaded it.

I hope these folks expand on their discussion... it has me very curious how the other person was interpreting what Amazon says on their site.

wallcraft · 12-30-2010, 06:52 PM

Amazon explicitly allows you to add DRM-free MOBI ebooks to your Kindle, so this can't void your warranty.

The Kindle 3 License Agreement and Terms of Use says:

Quote:

1. Digital Content

Use of Digital Content. Upon your download of Digital Content and payment of any applicable fees (including applicable taxes), the Content Provider grants you a non-exclusive right to view, use, and display such Digital Content an unlimited number of times, solely on the Kindle or a Reading Application or as otherwise permitted as part of the Service, solely on the number of Kindles or Other Devices specified in the Kindle Store, and solely for your personal, non-commercial use. Unless otherwise specified, Digital Content is licensed, not sold, to you by the Content Provider. The Content Provider may post additional terms for Digital Content in the Kindle Store. Those terms will also apply, but this Agreement will govern in the event of a conflict. Some Digital Content, such as Periodicals, may not be available to you through Reading Applications.

Limitations. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, you may not sell, rent, lease, distribute, broadcast, sublicense, or otherwise assign any rights to the Digital Content or any portion of it to any third party, and you may not remove or modify any proprietary notices or labels on the Digital Content. In addition, you may not bypass, modify, defeat, or circumvent security features that protect the Digital Content.

This only mentions Kindle store ebooks, so it would not violate these terms to strip the DRM from a MobiPocket ebook, or an ePub, and then download a DRM-free MOBI version to your Kindle.

It does violate these terms if you strip DRM from an AZW or TOPAZ ebook you bought in the Kindle Store and then download it to your Kindle. However, I have never heard of any adverse consequences of doing so.

osnova · 12-30-2010, 07:17 PM

Not everything can or should be explained. This is one example of such a patently false statement that defies, and does not need, an explanation.

copyrite · 12-30-2010, 07:22 PM

Well she had me (sorta) sold, so a bit of an explanation from someone who has a better understanding of the Kindle's warranty is a good thing. LOL

Nyssa · 12-31-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

It does violate these terms if you strip DRM from an AZW or TOPAZ ebook you bought in the Kindle Store and then download it to your Kindle. However, I have never heard of any adverse consequences of doing so.

This is the info I was looking for!!! I love this site. Thank you!!

screwballl · 12-31-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcuadro

Removing DRM may bring some legal issues but you can put what you want on the Kindle and the device warranty is still valid. Heck, Amazon even tells you where to get other books that are not from Amazon that you can read on your kindle

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link...d_i=1286228011

Jailbreaking your kindle though voids the warranty

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Amazon explicitly allows you to add DRM-free MOBI ebooks to your Kindle, so this can't void your warranty.

It does violate these terms if you strip DRM from an AZW or TOPAZ ebook you bought in the Kindle Store and then download it to your Kindle. However, I have never heard of any adverse consequences of doing so.

That is it exactly, there is no other way to interpret the Amazon agreements.

Now even if you strip the DRM from a file and use it on the Kindle, it still does not invalidate the warranty, but it MAY (or may not) go against certain laws, but this is still a grey area.

The federal fair use law as stated in copyright laws state you can do what you want with digital media you legally purchased or acquired.
The vague DMCA criminalizes the act of circumventing an access control (such as DRM), whether or not there is actual infringement of copyright itself.

So there are 2 laws that conflict each other and so far no one in the government has stepped up to really clarify this so it remains a damned if you do, damned if you don't type situation.

This still applies to modern DRM:

HarryT · 12-31-2010, 01:59 PM

Is the Fair Use Act actually law yet? I was under the impression that it was still going through Congress.

screwballl · 12-31-2010, 02:07 PM

First I am editing my previous post to state Fair Use Law as outlined by copyright law, not the "Fair Use Act" which has been tossed around for the past 3 years.

HarryT · 12-31-2010, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the clarification; I did think that the Fair Use Act was still languishing in committee whence, I suspect, it will never emerge.

screwballl · 12-31-2010, 02:15 PM

Well without really getting into a massive government related conversation, I just hope the new Congress will kick it up and pass it...

For those that like, contact your House rep and ask them to bring this back up and kick it through: H.R.1201 - Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h1201/show

12-30-2010, 05:10 PM	#1
copyrite Wizard Posts: 1,837 Karma: 4985051 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Device: Kindle	Converting ebooks to mobi format - invalidate warranty? I was reading somewhere outside this forum where someone indicated (at least by my interpretation of what she wrote) that putting non-DRM'd mobi books on a Kindle voids its warranty. Is this the case? And does this mean anything I convert via Calibre to a Kindle compatible format is invalidating my warranty? Or am I reading too much into this? (I don't have posting ability where I read this to ask). Thanks for any input.

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12-30-2010, 05:12 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Certainly not. You can put any content that you wish onto your Kindle.

12-30-2010, 05:18 PM	#3
copyrite Wizard Posts: 1,837 Karma: 4985051 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Device: Kindle	Maybe the person means it's an issue with mobi books that have had DRM removed and then put on another Kindle? That doesn't make sense though.

12-30-2010, 05:38 PM	#5
bhartman36 Wizard Posts: 1,323 Karma: 1515835 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey, USA Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021)	I would reiterate what rcuadro said. You can put any content you want on your Kindle that works with it. And as far as the warranty's concerned, you can convert any content in Calibre and then load it on to your Kindle. (Stripping DRM brings in legal questions, but it would have nothing to do with your warranty.) Now, if you were to load software on to your Kindle that let you read another format natively, that might invalidate your warranty (if they discovered it), but as long as you restrict your tinkering to outside of the Kindle itself, you should be safe.

12-30-2010, 05:48 PM	#6
copyrite Wizard Posts: 1,837 Karma: 4985051 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Device: Kindle	It wouldn't be me that stripped the DRM, it would just be me that uploaded it. I hope these folks expand on their discussion... it has me very curious how the other person was interpreting what Amazon says on their site.

12-30-2010, 07:17 PM	#8
osnova Kindler of the Flame Posts: 582 Karma: 646016 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US of A Device: K DX,3,KT,KP,KF, KFHD; Nook C, PRS600, iPad, Xoom, N900, N810, Zaurus	Not everything can or should be explained. This is one example of such a patently false statement that defies, and does not need, an explanation.

12-30-2010, 07:22 PM	#9
copyrite Wizard Posts: 1,837 Karma: 4985051 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Device: Kindle	Well she had me (sorta) sold, so a bit of an explanation from someone who has a better understanding of the Kindle's warranty is a good thing. LOL

12-31-2010, 01:59 PM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Is the Fair Use Act actually law yet? I was under the impression that it was still going through Congress.

12-31-2010, 02:07 PM	#13
screwballl NewKindler Posts: 504 Karma: 1865773 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NWFL Device: Kindle3 Wifi	First I am editing my previous post to state Fair Use Law as outlined by copyright law, not the "Fair Use Act" which has been tossed around for the past 3 years.

12-31-2010, 02:10 PM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thanks for the clarification; I did think that the Fair Use Act was still languishing in committee whence, I suspect, it will never emerge.

12-31-2010, 02:15 PM	#15
screwballl NewKindler Posts: 504 Karma: 1865773 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NWFL Device: Kindle3 Wifi	Well without really getting into a massive government related conversation, I just hope the new Congress will kick it up and pass it... For those that like, contact your House rep and ask them to bring this back up and kick it through: H.R.1201 - Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007 http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h1201/show

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