Is it easy to remove DRM protection?

erictoma · 11-29-2010, 09:03 PM

Is it easy to remove DRM protection from purchased eBooks in order to read them in Kindle 3?
Does this operation affects the layout?

Does it affects any function in Kindle such dictionary ?
thanks a lot

desertgrandma · 11-29-2010, 09:04 PM

I hear its easy once you know how......and it interferes with nothing, in any way.

If you are using Calibre as your book manager, I understand there is a "plug-in" that even does it for you.

I wouldn't know.

ATDrake · 11-29-2010, 09:07 PM

1) Depends on what type it is. B&N/eReader=easiest. iBooks=can't be done.

2) Sometimes, as .mobi format is … somewhat more lacking in the display department than epub. Also, KindleGen can introduce some really weird and annoying formatting errors, though Calibre might do better.

3) No. Dictionary, highlighting, text-to-speech etc. all work just the same.

Hope this helps.

FizzyWater · 11-29-2010, 09:20 PM

We can't give you many specifics to avoid embroiling Mobileread in legal issues...but Google is your friend. Try searching for a blog by Apprentice Alf or I love Cabbages...

wallcraft · 11-29-2010, 09:27 PM

You need Calibre to convert DRM-free ePub to DRM-free MOBI. The dictionary works on DRM-free MOBI on the Kindle, but you can only sync Kindle-store ebooks across Kindle devices and apps.

Calibre only format shifts DRM-free ebooks, but the tools_v2.2a bundle includes 3rd-party Calibre plug-ins to strip DRM from Adobe and B&N ePubs during the import proccess. See Apprentice Alf's blog, and don't forget that it is now over multiple pages.

JeremyR · 11-29-2010, 09:56 PM

Personally, I would say no. I know there are supposedly plug-ins, but they don't make much sense to me as they are poorly documented. Basically you need to understand Python (which frankly, I don't).

And if you buy from B&N, apparently the encryption they use is tied to your credit card. So to decrypt it, you need to give out your CC number, which is not going to happen as far as I am concerned.

Beyond that, there is a design feature in Calibre that for some reason makes the left margins gigantic when you convert certain epubs to mobi.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=330

And as I guess it's intentional, it's never going to be fixed.

DiapDealer · 11-29-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Basically you need to understand Python (which frankly, I don't).

With the plugins, you need to know absolutely nothing about python. And I'm not sure how much more documented they could get.

Quote:

So to decrypt it, you need to give out your CC number, which is not going to happen as far as I am concerned.

That's misleading. You don't have to "give out" your CC number at all.

wallcraft · 11-29-2010, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

And if you buy from B&N, apparently the encryption they use is tied to your credit card. So to decrypt it, you need to give out your CC number, which is not going to happen as far as I am concerned.

The entire point of the plug-ins is that you don't need Python installed (because Calibre already includes part of Python). They started out poorly documented, but now the documentation for plug-ins appears ok to me. Also, if you don't mind installing Python (Windows PC), the original scripts are very easy to use. They are now OSX friendly too.

In either case, you need to type in your credit card name and number one time on your own computer - and the script or plug-in generates a key which is used from then on. The exact same process is used by Nook 4 PC, for example.

FF2 · 11-29-2010, 10:30 PM

I guess I'm getting more dense in my old age but I'm kind of with Jeremy - not as simple as it could be but that again, I guess it is on the dark side of things. I did not see PLUG-INs per se. I saw a ton of subdirectories (giving away, somewhat my age), ahem, folders but maybe I needed a newer version.

DiapDealer · 11-29-2010, 10:39 PM

Quote:

I did not see PLUG-INs per se. I saw a ton of subdirectories (giving away, somewhat my age), ahem, folders but maybe I needed a newer version.

One of those folders has a name that should ring some bells... "Calibre_Plugins"

erictoma · 11-29-2010, 10:49 PM

So please what is your final conclusion ?? it is easy to convert them or not ?
i have to make decision between Kobo and Kindle based on your conclusion

wallcraft · 11-29-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erictoma

it is easy to convert them or not ?

I suggest you download Calibre and tools_v2.2a and try it out on a test ePub ebook, e.g. from Kobo. You can test conversion to MOBI in Calibre and view the result in Calibre, or in Kindle 4 PC (or Kindle 4 Mac).

emalvick · 11-29-2010, 11:09 PM

I think it is relatively easy, but the issue ends up being how computer savvy are you? Can you handle moving some files around in Windows Explorer? Can you maneuver are your hard drive a bit? If you can answer yes to those, then the rest is just a matter of following the directions on how to setup plugins in Calibre. There is even a nice Calibre forum here which can help in a generic sense (not with the specific DRM task).

If you have a hard time manipulating files in Windows, then it isn't that easy.

Python knowledge isn't important, but since this is the dark side, so to speak, the plugins and scripts aren't fancy, graphical windows programs that people might consider as easy as it gets. But, they are as easy as I've ever seen "dark side" software work.

Leep · 11-30-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erictoma

So please what is your final conclusion ?? it is easy to convert them or not ?
i have to make decision between Kobo and Kindle based on your conclusion

It is now fairly straight forward to install the plugins for Calibre. And you no longer need to install Python. Once the plugins are installed, drm removal is a no brainer and totally automatic whenever you add a new book to Calibre. As Diapdealer states, for B&N, you only insert your cc number once on your own computer in Calibre as a drm removal reference, since this is how B&N ties the book to your account.

As mentioned above, try it out for yourself with a "free" book from your booksellers. If you get it working, you can purchase books from multiple booksellers and read them on whichever device you want.

cheers

Pushka · 11-30-2010, 12:48 AM

On the grapevine

have heard it takes a while to work it all out, but once that is done, a friend has told me that it is very quick. He did not have to give his credit card details out to anyone, but they are inserted into part of a programme on your own computer. Apparently. So no need for scare tactics on that score.

Google is your friend.

11-29-2010, 09:03 PM	#1
erictoma Banned Posts: 223 Karma: 126 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Device: None	Is it easy to remove DRM protection? Is it easy to remove DRM protection from purchased eBooks in order to read them in Kindle 3? Does this operation affects the layout? Does it affects any function in Kindle such dictionary ? thanks a lot

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11-29-2010, 09:04 PM	#2
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	I hear its easy once you know how......and it interferes with nothing, in any way. If you are using Calibre as your book manager, I understand there is a "plug-in" that even does it for you. I wouldn't know.

11-29-2010, 09:07 PM	#3
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	1) Depends on what type it is. B&N/eReader=easiest. iBooks=can't be done. 2) Sometimes, as .mobi format is … somewhat more lacking in the display department than epub. Also, KindleGen can introduce some really weird and annoying formatting errors, though Calibre might do better. 3) No. Dictionary, highlighting, text-to-speech etc. all work just the same. Hope this helps.

11-29-2010, 09:20 PM	#4
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	We can't give you many specifics to avoid embroiling Mobileread in legal issues...but Google is your friend. Try searching for a blog by Apprentice Alf or I love Cabbages...

11-29-2010, 09:27 PM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	You need Calibre to convert DRM-free ePub to DRM-free MOBI. The dictionary works on DRM-free MOBI on the Kindle, but you can only sync Kindle-store ebooks across Kindle devices and apps. Calibre only format shifts DRM-free ebooks, but the tools_v2.2a bundle includes 3rd-party Calibre plug-ins to strip DRM from Adobe and B&N ePubs during the import proccess. See Apprentice Alf's blog, and don't forget that it is now over multiple pages.

11-29-2010, 09:56 PM	#6
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Personally, I would say no. I know there are supposedly plug-ins, but they don't make much sense to me as they are poorly documented. Basically you need to understand Python (which frankly, I don't). And if you buy from B&N, apparently the encryption they use is tied to your credit card. So to decrypt it, you need to give out your CC number, which is not going to happen as far as I am concerned. Beyond that, there is a design feature in Calibre that for some reason makes the left margins gigantic when you convert certain epubs to mobi. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=330 And as I guess it's intentional, it's never going to be fixed.

11-29-2010, 10:30 PM	#9
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	I guess I'm getting more dense in my old age but I'm kind of with Jeremy - not as simple as it could be but that again, I guess it is on the dark side of things. I did not see PLUG-INs per se. I saw a ton of subdirectories (giving away, somewhat my age), ahem, folders but maybe I needed a newer version.

11-29-2010, 10:49 PM	#11
erictoma Banned Posts: 223 Karma: 126 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Device: None	So please what is your final conclusion ?? it is easy to convert them or not ? i have to make decision between Kobo and Kindle based on your conclusion

11-29-2010, 11:09 PM	#13
emalvick Groupie Posts: 166 Karma: 5358 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Davis, CA Device: Kindle 3	I think it is relatively easy, but the issue ends up being how computer savvy are you? Can you handle moving some files around in Windows Explorer? Can you maneuver are your hard drive a bit? If you can answer yes to those, then the rest is just a matter of following the directions on how to setup plugins in Calibre. There is even a nice Calibre forum here which can help in a generic sense (not with the specific DRM task). If you have a hard time manipulating files in Windows, then it isn't that easy. Python knowledge isn't important, but since this is the dark side, so to speak, the plugins and scripts aren't fancy, graphical windows programs that people might consider as easy as it gets. But, they are as easy as I've ever seen "dark side" software work.

11-30-2010, 12:48 AM	#15
Pushka Wizard Posts: 1,119 Karma: 1019140 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia Device: kindle, Ipad, Iphone, Nexus and PPW	On the grapevine have heard it takes a while to work it all out, but once that is done, a friend has told me that it is very quick. He did not have to give his credit card details out to anyone, but they are inserted into part of a programme on your own computer. Apparently. So no need for scare tactics on that score. Google is your friend.