DRM is necessary and good, stop complaining

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by dugbug

thats not the point... a book is inherently difficult to mass copy and distribute. Its not like hiding a camcorder into a movie theater

-d

Transfering a pbook to ebook by scanning & distributing it via the net is very similar to taking a camcorder into a theater & making the movie available online.

Dozens of books hit the net within days of coming out & there is no official ebook version (like Potter). It's obviously not to hard or it wouldn't happen so often or so quickly.

[HarryT]

Would you not agree, though, that time-limiting DRM is necessary if we want libraries to issue e-Books? A library book, by its very nature, has to "expire"!

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Would you not agree, though, that time-limiting DRM is necessary if we want libraries to issue e-Books? A library book, by its very nature, has to "expire"!

Much as I normally oppose DRM, yes, I think this is a reasonable use of it. (Though I wonder how many people would continue to try to use the file after their loan had expired anyway?) I hope, however, that a broadly supported scheme for which readers are available for many hardware/OS platforms is used, not something that can only be read on one platform (be it Windows or Kindle or whatever).

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Would you not agree, though, that time-limiting DRM is necessary if we want libraries to issue e-Books? A library book, by its very nature, has to "expire"!

It's the perfect use for DRM in my opinion.

[micomicon]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Would you not agree, though, that time-limiting DRM is necessary if we want libraries to issue e-Books? A library book, by its very nature, has to "expire"!

I do not agree. The reason that library books "expire" is that it's impractical for a library to house more than one version of the same book. If I want to read a book that you have checked out, I have to wait for you to return it. This problem does not exist with ebooks.

Again, DRM is a way to impose some of the limitations of pbooks on ebooks. From an educational POV, there are very few good reasons to do this (if any).

[kovidgoyal]

But digital information makes the whole concept of the traditional library somewhat moot. After all the rationale behind the library is, I believe, to make a large number of books available to the general public, as the general public cannot easily obtain these books otherwise.

Now for out-of-copyright or open access works, libraries are useless. For in-copyright works, a digital library, because it would have infinite copies and be really easy to get books for free from (in an ideal world) would be anathema to publishers. They'd start charging libraries exorbitant prices.

[micomicon]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

For in-copyright works, a digital library, because it would have infinite copies and be really easy to get books for free from (in an ideal world) would be anathema to publishers. They'd start charging libraries exorbitant prices.

Yes, but that is just because publishers (understandably) want to hold on to the status quo, even when digital technology completely upends their world.

We are in a period of transition, making a (huge, scary) leap between paradigms. In 50 years' time, the word ebook will have the same anachronistic feel as "horseless carriage".

[kovidgoyal]

Nonetheless, the fact remains that the library as an institution is doomed.

[micomicon]

So the question is, are we willing to exploit the new technology to its fullest? Or are we gonna throttle it to protect a business model that is built on a 600-year-old technology?

[micomicon]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Nonetheless, the fact remains that the library as an institution is doomed.

If the core mission of the library is to serve as a repository of human knowledge, I think it has a large role to play in the future. One of the newest (and most celebrated) libraries in the world -- the Seattle Public Library -- has as one of its design premises the idea that one of the library's primary objectives is to provide a space for social interaction between people seeking knowledge. It does not need pbooks to fulfill this objective.

[kovidgoyal]

Certainly, some present actual institutions will morph into something else, but they wont be libraries any more. And the number of such new "libraries" will greatly decrease.

[micomicon]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

but they wont be libraries any more.

Is there something sacred about libraries?

[kovidgoyal]

The point being that since libraries aren't going to be libraries any more, the need for DRM in libraries isn't a very good example of the use of DRM.

[micomicon]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The point being that since libraries aren't going to be libraries any more, the need for DRM in libraries isn't a very good example of the use of DRM.

Ah, then we agree. Although I'm still not convinced DRM in libraries is a good example of an acceptable use of DRM. Much to the contrary, I think it's a good example of how DRM is designed to protect an industry that is in deep, deep trouble.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Now for out-of-copyright or open access works, libraries are useless.

Why so, why the present tense?

There are probably millions of out-of-copyright works that are only currently only available within libraries, and are unlikely to be digitised anytime soon. Without libraries these would be lost.

Where are the digital solutions giving blind readers access to huge amounts of material?
How will the less tech savvy readers get hold of obscure books at reasonable prices without a library service?
What about the poor who can't afford to buy all the books they want to read?
Who'll bother digitising local history archives that are of interest to a very small clientele?

eReaders are a new option, but that doesn't automatically mean they're an alternative to reading printed books - reading for recreation can still be enhanced by the tactile and visual appeal of a beautifully produced book.

Libraries are too precious to surrender willingly; and we should remember that Western civilisation only survives to the present day because of the heroic librarians of the past. They may yet be called upon again, we cannot afford to be without them.
Is there something sacred about libraries? Yes! Imho, they are more sacred than cathedrals.