How does adobe DRM work?

[mattrix]

Hope this is in the correct place.

I'm new to ereaders and really confused about DRM. Not asking what its for or how to remove it, but whats the process(ing) from buying the book to actualy reading it on an ereader.

Basically what needs to be done and who does it?

so Ill start;

1.You pay for the book and download a .acsm file

Yhis ticket needs to contain, an id code, address of the server who'll accept it, and information about who can use it (the purchaser). And lots of other stuff I guess.

2.You need a client to process the ticket and fetch the book (?ADE, are there others clients (windows)?)

The client needs to know who you are so it can work out if you can download the book, (an account with adobe? or does the client ask you for identification since the book supplier doesnt know your adobe ID?).
Does the client also choose the encryption key? What info is built into this key? Does it need to know the end device that will render the book?

3. Eventually the client downloads an encrypted file (book)

4. Somehow it gets on the ereader. Can it just be copied there like non-drmed books?

5. The ereader needs to be told something about the key to decrypt the book?

Can someone flesh this out, or point me to somewhere that does.

[eschwartz]

I believe Sony/Kobo Desktop have ADE in them. That's basically it.

You do not need an account with Adobe, you can authenticate without an ID -- but then when you switch computers you lose the books. Also, you cannot sign into the same account on an reader if you don't HAVE an account. You need to login to the same account on all pcs/devices in order that they can decrypt the DRM. But once signed into the account, you simply copy the books over. The DRM is based off the ID used.

[PeterT]

Kobo Desktop does not contain Adobe DRM support....

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Kobo Desktop does not contain Adobe DRM support....

Ah OK thanks for the info.

I wouldn't know I don't use either.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by mattrix

Does it need to know the end device that will render the book?

No, it's not device specific.

The ereader needs to be told something about the key to decrypt the book?

The reader needs to support the DRM scheme and then be registered to the same Adobe ID as the client you downloaded the book with.

[mattrix]

You do not need an account with Adobe, you can authenticate without an ID -- but then when you switch computers you lose the books.

So it gets tied to the computer where ADE is installed? and can't be read on a reader?

Also, you cannot sign into the same account on an reader if you don't HAVE an account.

My ereader (KoboGlo) requires me to sign in to Kobo just to use it (I've never signed out, well, only once when I got it, not good). Does that mean I already have an adobe ID via Kobo?

You need to login to the same account on all pcs/devices in order that they can decrypt the DRM.

So I need to use the same ID (email address? or what?) at all bookstores, adobe, and Kobo (reader)?

I believe Sony/Kobo Desktop have ADE in them. That's basically it.

OK so ADE it is then? I'm somewhat prejudiced against adobe.

[mattrix]

Quote:
Does it need to know the end device that will render the book? /quote

No, it's not device specific.

The reader needs to support the DRM scheme and then be registered to the same Adobe ID as the client you downloaded the book with.

What do you mean, "registered"? In ADE, or just signed in on the reader?

[mattrix]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Kobo Desktop does not contain Adobe DRM support....

But the Kobo reader does?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by mattrix

So it gets tied to the computer where ADE is installed? and can't be read on a reader?

If you don't register ADE with an Adobe ID, yes.

My ereader (KoboGlo) requires me to sign in to Kobo just to use it (I've never signed out, well, only once when I got it, not good). Does that mean I already have an adobe ID via Kobo?

No, signed into Kobo isn't the same thing. If it's authorized with Adobe it'll say so on the device under settings--->accounts

Here's Kobo's official way for activating your device with an Adobe ID

How do I authorize my Kobo eReader with Adobe?

Before you can use Digital Editions to transfer books to your Kobo eReader, you must authorize your eReader with Adobe. When you authorize your Kobo eReader, Adobe adds it to the list of devices associated with your Adobe account. Adobe limits the number of eReaders and computers you can use with their software, which is why this is necessary.

Authorizing takes only a moment.


To authorize your eReader:

Connect your Kobo eReader to your computer and select Manage Library.

Start Digital Editions.
If you were already using Digital Editions, restart it so that it will find your eReader and start the Device Setup Assistant.

Click Authorize Device.

Click Finished to complete the process.

Your eReader will now be listed as one of your Bookshelves in Digital Editions. You can drag books from your Digital Editions library to the eReader icon to copy them to your eReader.

If you don't already have an Adobe ID I believe ADE will take you through the steps to get one (could be remembering wrong, it's been years) or you can follow these steps...
http://www.kobo.com/help/en-US/artic...obe-digital-id

Originally Posted by mattrix

What do you mean, "registered"? In ADE, or just signed in on the reader?

I mean you need to be registered with Adobe (have an Adobe ID) and that ID needs to be used to both activate/register both ADE and the Kobo device.

Originally Posted by mattrix

But the Kobo reader does?

Correct. It supports both Kobo DRM and Adobe DRM.

[mattrix]

Thankyou.
Now its as clear as mud. More questions:

So if I've used different emails at different stores, I'll need more than one Adobe ID?

Can the reader be registered to multiple ID's at the one time or different ID's one at a time?

You say its not device specific, does that mean I can register the reader after I've downloaded the book?

[eschwartz]

!. It depends on the Adobe ID you first opened the book with -- that is the Adobe ID that the book belongs to.

2. No, only one ID at a time. However, you can deregister and reregister whenever you want.

3. Yes, after downloading the book to ADE or any other logged-in pc/device, you can register more pcs/devices and the book will open on the newly-registered pc/device.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by mattrix

So if I've used different emails at different stores, I'll need more than one Adobe ID?

You use one Adobe ID for activating all of your DRM related apps & readers. What email you use for a given stores login/contact info has nothing to do with it. The only time the Adobe ID comes into play with the store is when ADE communicates with the content server.

Can the reader be registered to multiple ID's at the one time or different ID's one at a time?

Nope

You say its not device specific, does that mean I can register the reader after I've downloaded the book?

Yes

[mattrix]

Thanks for sticking with me.
I think I'm getting the idea.

I just got thrown off-balance when I got an .acsm file instead of an epub.

So if I've got it correct, anybody can use the .acsm file (probably only once) to download the book, and I can read it if they register my reader via their ADE installation.

[eschwartz]

Yes, but the .acsm can be used in the future as well, only to download the book onto a a reader app/device which is logged into your ADE installation.

The .acsm file can be viewed as the "key" to the book, where that "key" must fit into the right "lock". The "lock" is your Adobe ID, and if you can match the key with the lock you get the book.

This is useful if you move to a new computer but don't transfer your Digital Editions folder. You can still go back to the store website and redownload the .acsm and open it with ADE to get your books back -- as long as the ID matches.

[mattrix]

Just found this on adobe's site:

Enter in your Adobe ID and password to authorize your copy of Digital Editions. Make sure that this Adobe ID is the same ID that was used to purchase your eBooks.

Seems to suggest the .acsm file is already locked to my email?
So might need multiple adobe accounts?