Sony Reader Lives on with Rowling! - Page 4

HarryT · 06-23-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

2 ) there is no DRM (including watermark), I can't take off easily.

Why do you care about a watermark? Are you planning to give copies of the books to other people?

anamardoll · 06-23-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why do you care about a watermark? Are you planning to give copies of the books to other people?

Ah, the classic "if you're not a pirate, why do you care?" argument. I thought we'd called "Dead Horse" on that.

I can think of several good reasons to not want a file on my computer or on a portable eReader that can be lost or stolen that unnecessarily contains personal identification information.

HarryT · 06-23-2011, 04:04 PM

There's some serious paranoia going on here. As stated, eReader have been using CC tagging of books for many, many years, and the sky has not fallen as a result. Do you SERIOUSLY believe that if you lose your eBook reader, someone's going to take the trouble to upload all the books from it onto torrent sites? Can you give me ONE example of that having happened, ever, to one single person?

JSWolf · 06-23-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

There's some serious paranoia going on here. As stated, eReader have been using CC tagging of books for many, many years, and the sky has not fallen as a result. Do you SERIOUSLY believe that if you lose your eBook reader, someone's going to take the trouble to upload all the books from it onto torrent sites? Can you give me ONE example of that having happened, ever, to one single person?

That's something we will never know. We don't know the source of all pirated eBooks and nobody is going to tell.

anamardoll · 06-23-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

There's some serious paranoia going on here. As stated, eReader have been using CC tagging of books for many, many years, and the sky has not fallen as a result. Do you SERIOUSLY believe that if you lose your eBook reader, someone's going to take the trouble to upload all the books from it onto torrent sites? Can you give me ONE example of that having happened, ever, to one single person?

Well, telling me what eReader does or doesn't do doesn't really matter to me because I don't buy from them. Never will, if they like to embed personal data in their book like you're claiming. Yay, free market.

You're misunderstanding me. Do I fear someone will retrieve my books off of my reader, upload them to torrent, and I'll get a visit from the FBI? Probably not. Possible, but not likely.

Do I imagine that someone could retrieve my books off my reader, and run a quick program to extract the personal data that Rowling Inc or eReader or whoever embedded into the files? Sure, why not? Even easier to spot a target when the readers can be spotted a mile off with the acid-etched Hermione on the back of the reader.

Furthermore, you seem to be forgetting that any personal data contained in these books will be streamed over WiFi networks and 3G. Yeah, I'm not going to sign up for that.

So I'm paranoid about my personal data? Good. I've had my identity stolen before from someone dumpster diving behind a gas station -- strange things happen. Stealing a laptop (or an eReader, eventually) to take an identity happens more frequently than you seem to think.

I take exception furthermore to the implication that only thieves care about disinfecting their ebook files. I thought we were, ah, above that here.

HarryT · 06-23-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Do I imagine that someone could retrieve my books off my reader, and run a quick program to extract the personal data that Rowling Inc or eReader or whoever embedded into the files? Sure, why not?

Because there is not one shred of evidence to support the idea that this has ever happened to anybody, in all the years that eReader books have been using this DRM mechanism. If someone wants to steal your identity, there are much easier ways to do it. I'm sorry, but this seems like pure paranoia to me, it really does.

tubemonkey · 06-23-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I just figured out an interesting connection with Pottermore and Sony. Rowling said this was happening in October. What else happens in October?

NEW SONY READERS!

new Sony 675 = $230
HP eBooks = $20 ea x 7 = $140

HP branded Sony 675 with all 7 HP books preloaded = $350

such a deal

anamardoll · 06-23-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Because there is not one shred of evidence to support the idea that this has ever happened to anybody, in all the years that eReader books have been using this DRM mechanism. If someone wants to steal your identity, there are much easier ways to do it. I'm sorry, but this seems like pure paranoia to me, it really does.

Great. Give me an "unnecessarily paranoid about her credit information" title. I'll wear it proudly.

Just please stop with the implication that only pirates and thieves remove DRM.

charleski · 06-23-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Do I imagine that someone could retrieve my books off my reader, and run a quick program to extract the personal data that Rowling Inc or eReader or whoever embedded into the files?

As straw-man arguments go, that takes the cake. Any competent watermark is going to be nothing more than a code that only identifies you when matched with the information on their servers.

Watermarking is far preferable to DRM. It's possible to do it in ways that are difficult and/or tedious to remove, but it remains to be seen how far they're going to enforce things.

HarryT · 06-23-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Just please stop with the implication that only pirates and thieves remove DRM.

I have never suggested that. The main reason to remove "conventional" DRM is, however, to permit you to easily copy your books between devices. That really is not an issue for this type of "social DRM"; a watermark will not stop you from loading a book onto whatever devices you own now, or may own in the future.

I shall most certainly buy these books, watermark or no watermark.

JSWolf · 06-23-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

new Sony 675 = $230
HP eBooks = $20 ea x 7 = $140

HP branded Sony 675 with all 7 HP books preloaded = $350

such a deal

$200 with all the HP books would be a good deal.

SCION · 06-23-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

new Sony 675 = $230
HP eBooks = $20 ea x 7 = $140

HP branded Sony 675 with all 7 HP books preloaded = $350

such a deal

You're probably not far off.

anamardoll · 06-23-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleski

As straw-man arguments go, that takes the cake. Any competent watermark is going to be nothing more than a code that only identifies you when matched with the information on their servers.

Watermarking is far preferable to DRM. It's possible to do it in ways that are difficult and/or tedious to remove, but it remains to be seen how far they're going to enforce things.

And a HP database containing the personal information of all HP eBook fans wouldn't be a boon for unethical hackers?

'Course, if Sony is in charge of their firewalls, we shouldn't have anything to worry about.

I'm not going to argue about this further, mostly because I find it tiresome. Watermarking IS DRM, as far as I'm concerned, and any company who wants to keep with my personal information forever because they think I'm probably a thief can do without my money. I'll buy the books off Kobo when they come available there. I rather suspect they will eventually.

anamardoll · 06-23-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why do you care about a watermark? Are you planning to give copies of the books to other people?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have never suggested that. The main reason to remove "conventional" DRM is, however, to permit you to easily copy your books between devices. That really is not an issue for this type of "social DRM"; a watermark will not stop you from loading a book onto whatever devices you own now, or may own in the future.

I shall most certainly buy these books, watermark or no watermark.

You didn't just link watermark removal with "giving" copies to people who hadn't bought it? I apologize for misunderstanding you.

JSWolf · 06-23-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

And a HP database containing the personal information of all HP eBook fans wouldn't be a boon for unethical hackers?

'Course, if Sony is in charge of their firewalls, we shouldn't have anything to worry about.

I'm not going to argue about this further, mostly because I find it tiresome. Watermarking IS DRM, as far as I'm concerned, and any company who wants to play with my personal information because they think I'm probably a thief can do without my money. I'll buy the books off Kobo when they come available there. I rather suspect they will eventually.

From what I gather, the eBooks will only be sold via Pottermore.

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06-23-2011, 04:04 PM	#48
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	There's some serious paranoia going on here. As stated, eReader have been using CC tagging of books for many, many years, and the sky has not fallen as a result. Do you SERIOUSLY believe that if you lose your eBook reader, someone's going to take the trouble to upload all the books from it onto torrent sites? Can you give me ONE example of that having happened, ever, to one single person?