Would you buy an e-book with DRM?

dpapathanasiou · 06-15-2010, 06:04 PM

We have an anti-DRM policy at Fifobooks (i.e., we won't sell an e-book with DRM), and while that has affected the decision of some authors to publish through us (some have reacted positively to that policy, others negatively), I'd like to find out what readers think of DRM.

rcuadro · 06-15-2010, 06:10 PM

I buy 99% of my books from Amazon

petermillard · 06-15-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcuadro

I buy 99% of my books from Amazon

Me too!

pdurrant · 06-15-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpapathanasiou

I'd like to find out what readers think of DRM.

I hate it. I selected "Yes, if I think I can remove the DRM after purchase" in your poll, although my actual position is "Yes, if I'm sure I can remove the DRM after purchase"

DRM doesn't stop piracy, but it does (if not removed) often lock customers into certain devices or certain software. It doesn't give any guarantee of being able to still read the content long-term. Indeed, on past experience, it seems quite likely to cause the loss of the ability to read the content on new devices within five to ten years.

dpapathanasiou · 06-15-2010, 06:28 PM

@ rcuadro and petermillard: is that b/c Amazon has the biggest catalog and/or anything you purchase there is read on one device? (i.e., "DRM doesn't matter" in the polling context).

Or, do you believe that authors' works should be protected from privacy, and you are ok with the limits DRM imposes?

dpapathanasiou · 06-15-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

DRM doesn't stop piracy, but it does (if not removed) often lock customers into certain devices or certain software. It doesn't give any guarantee of being able to still read the content long-term. Indeed, on past experience, it seems quite likely to cause the loss of the ability to read the content on new devices within five to ten years.

Exactly right.

That's one of the main reasons for our anti-DRM policy.

kjk · 06-15-2010, 06:35 PM

If Neal Stephenson, Haruki Murakami, JRR Tolkien, Chimamanda Adichie, Jhumpa Lahiri, and several of my other favorite authors would publish in DRM-free formats, I'd definitely buy them in DRM-free formats. As it is, I am willing to buy them in DRMed formats, because I enjoy their work that much. Being able to remove their DRM to read on the device/app of my choice is just the cherry on top

Elfwreck · 06-15-2010, 06:37 PM

I don't buy DRM'd ebooks. At the moment, I don't download free DRM'd ebooks; I have no software for reading them. (I'm sure I'll change that eventually; I haven't reinstalled the cluster of ebook programs I had on the old computer.)

omk3 · 06-15-2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I hate it. I selected "Yes, if I think I can remove the DRM after purchase" in your poll, although my actual position is "Yes, if I'm sure I can remove the DRM after purchase"

Exactly! Unfortunately, there are books out there I want to read which don't come with a DRM-free option. So I buy them, but ONLY if I'm sure I can remove it.

AnemicOak · 06-15-2010, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I hate it. I selected "Yes, if I think I can remove the DRM after purchase" in your poll, although my actual position is "Yes, if I'm sure I can remove the DRM after purchase"

rhadin · 06-15-2010, 06:58 PM

I selected yes because it is the closest correct response. I do buy ebooks with DRM, largely from the Sony store. That's because I can read the ebook on a lot of different dedicated reading devices.

What I won't do is buy a DRMed ebook that I can only read on a single device or on devices other than my e-ink dedicated reader, not even if I can strip the DRM. Consequently, I would never consider buying an ebook from Amazon.

Of course, there is another caveat: price. I am willing to buy ebooks at Sony with DRM because I can buy them at a 40% discount, at least until I use up my gift card credit (I bought $250 worth of gift cards for $150 when Target had them on sale). Once that runs out, I won't be buying there because of pricing.

If a book comes with DRM I am unwilling to pay more than $2-$3 for it; if it is both laden with DRM and from an unknown author, I am unwilling to pay more than 99 cents.

So yes is the correct answer but with lots of caveats.

Sydney's Mom · 06-15-2010, 07:16 PM

I agree with pdurrant - only if I am sure I can remove DRM. I think piracy is wrong, and I do not share those books with ANYONE, including my family. But I intend to choose my next reader based on the merits of the reader, not the store it is tied to.

Stinger · 06-15-2010, 07:30 PM

I will not purchase any ebook wrapped in DRM, out of principle. I have downloaded a few 'freebies' with DRM, but stripping said DRM is the first thing I do. I strongly believe that 'knuckling under' and buying DRM'd books, then promptly stripping the DRM, is the worst kind of precedent us ebook enthusiasts can set. The bottom-line is if the publishers are still raking in strong profits with DRM in place, even if people complain about it, nothing is going to change. Vote with your wallets guys! as consumers, that's about the only voice we have.

I find the majority of my ebooks on 'darknets' due to the above. If I enjoy the book, I'll pick up a firsthand paperback edition to support the author.

rcuadro · 06-15-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpapathanasiou

@ rcuadro and petermillard: is that b/c Amazon has the biggest catalog and/or anything you purchase there is read on one device? (i.e., "DRM doesn't matter" in the polling context).

Or, do you believe that authors' works should be protected from privacy, and you are ok with the limits DRM imposes?

For me it is for two main reasons:

1) I have 4 Kindles, 2 iPhones, 1 BlackBerry, 1 Ipod Touch, and 5 PC's all associated to my Amazon Account so one purchase can be used by most of my family

2) Most of my family is computer dumb and the Kindle makes it so easy to get a book onto the device (Kindle or other). I can send it to the device that wants it and BAM!

The one minor reason is the availability of MobiDeDRM

delphidb96 · 06-15-2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpapathanasiou

@ rcuadro and petermillard: is that b/c Amazon has the biggest catalog and/or anything you purchase there is read on one device? (i.e., "DRM doesn't matter" in the polling context).

Or, do you believe that authors' works should be protected from privacy, and you are ok with the limits DRM imposes?

Well, yes! I *do* believe any author's work should be protected *FROM* privacy! Which is why I strip out DRM as fast as I can buy the books!

Derek

View Poll Results: Would you buy an e-book with DRM?
Yes	52	19.48%
No	58	21.72%
Yes, if I think I can remove the DRM after purchase	144	53.93%
It doesn't matter	13	4.87%
Voters: 267. You may not vote on this poll

06-15-2010, 06:04 PM	#1
dpapathanasiou Nameless Being	Would you buy an e-book with DRM? We have an anti-DRM policy at Fifobooks (i.e., we won't sell an e-book with DRM), and while that has affected the decision of some authors to publish through us (some have reacted positively to that policy, others negatively), I'd like to find out what readers think of DRM. Last edited by dpapathanasiou; 06-15-2010 at 06:08 PM. Reason: Clarification

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06-15-2010, 06:10 PM	#2
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I buy 99% of my books from Amazon

06-15-2010, 06:28 PM	#5
dpapathanasiou Nameless Being	@ rcuadro and petermillard: is that b/c Amazon has the biggest catalog and/or anything you purchase there is read on one device? (i.e., "DRM doesn't matter" in the polling context). Or, do you believe that authors' works should be protected from privacy, and you are ok with the limits DRM imposes?

06-15-2010, 06:35 PM	#7
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	If Neal Stephenson, Haruki Murakami, JRR Tolkien, Chimamanda Adichie, Jhumpa Lahiri, and several of my other favorite authors would publish in DRM-free formats, I'd definitely buy them in DRM-free formats. As it is, I am willing to buy them in DRMed formats, because I enjoy their work that much. Being able to remove their DRM to read on the device/app of my choice is just the cherry on top

06-15-2010, 06:37 PM	#8
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,187 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	I don't buy DRM'd ebooks. At the moment, I don't download free DRM'd ebooks; I have no software for reading them. (I'm sure I'll change that eventually; I haven't reinstalled the cluster of ebook programs I had on the old computer.)

06-15-2010, 06:58 PM	#11
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	I selected yes because it is the closest correct response. I do buy ebooks with DRM, largely from the Sony store. That's because I can read the ebook on a lot of different dedicated reading devices. What I won't do is buy a DRMed ebook that I can only read on a single device or on devices other than my e-ink dedicated reader, not even if I can strip the DRM. Consequently, I would never consider buying an ebook from Amazon. Of course, there is another caveat: price. I am willing to buy ebooks at Sony with DRM because I can buy them at a 40% discount, at least until I use up my gift card credit (I bought $250 worth of gift cards for $150 when Target had them on sale). Once that runs out, I won't be buying there because of pricing. If a book comes with DRM I am unwilling to pay more than $2-$3 for it; if it is both laden with DRM and from an unknown author, I am unwilling to pay more than 99 cents. So yes is the correct answer but with lots of caveats.

06-15-2010, 07:16 PM	#12
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	I agree with pdurrant - only if I am sure I can remove DRM. I think piracy is wrong, and I do not share those books with ANYONE, including my family. But I intend to choose my next reader based on the merits of the reader, not the store it is tied to.

06-15-2010, 07:30 PM	#13
Stinger Asha'man Posts: 335 Karma: 844 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo	I will not purchase any ebook wrapped in DRM, out of principle. I have downloaded a few 'freebies' with DRM, but stripping said DRM is the first thing I do. I strongly believe that 'knuckling under' and buying DRM'd books, then promptly stripping the DRM, is the worst kind of precedent us ebook enthusiasts can set. The bottom-line is if the publishers are still raking in strong profits with DRM in place, even if people complain about it, nothing is going to change. Vote with your wallets guys! as consumers, that's about the only voice we have. I find the majority of my ebooks on 'darknets' due to the above. If I enjoy the book, I'll pick up a firsthand paperback edition to support the author.