B&N removed download option on all books in "My Nook" library

[lkmiller]

Ok Ken, let me go into all the details for why I have reached the conclusion that my credit card is no longer involved in encrypting the books on my account. I welcome you or any one else to poke holes in my conclusion. I would really love to be wrong about this.

I looked at 5 copies of the same book each downloaded when a different credit card was the default. I used the Tampermonkey script for each download. I signed out of my B&N account and exited my browser after each credit card change to make sure I was getting a fresh copy.

Copy #1 was downloaded when credit card #1 was the default.
Copy #2 was downloaded when I switched the default to cc#2 which was already on my account.

Both of these can be unlocked with my name (first last) and their respective cc number. Both of the credit cards have my name with the middle initial.

Copy #3 was downloaded after I added cc#3 with a completely different name and made it the default.
Copy #4 was downloaded after I switched back to cc#2.
Copy #5 was downloaded after I switched back to cc#1.

These last 3 copies will not unlock with any variation of my name, the cc name, or any combo that I could come up with.

I then took each copy of the book, changed its file extension from epub to zip, unzipped it, and compared the files inside there which handle the encryption (mainly a file called rights.xml). Copies 1, 2, and 3 are different from each other. Copies 3, 4, and 5 are identical.

Therefore, since the encryption previously changed when I changed my default credit and now it does not, I can only conclude that my credit card number is no longer involved. It may still use my B&N account name as one of the seeds to create the hash since that hasn't changed. But I can't see how it still uses the credit card number.

[Purple Lady]

Maybe B&N sees how well Amazon does and thinks that they only allow a Kindle or a Kindle app read Kindle books. Maybe that's what we need to do!

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Ok Ken, let me go into all the details for why I have reached the conclusion that my credit card is no longer involved in encrypting the books on my account. I welcome you or any one else to poke holes in my conclusion. I would really love to be wrong about this.

I looked at 5 copies of the same book each downloaded when a different credit card was the default. I used the Tampermonkey script for each download. I signed out of my B&N account and exited my browser after each credit card change to make sure I was getting a fresh copy.

Copy #1 was downloaded when credit card #1 was the default.
Copy #2 was downloaded when I switched the default to cc#2 which was already on my account.

Both of these can be unlocked with my name (first last) and their respective cc number. Both of the credit cards have my name with the middle initial.

Copy #3 was downloaded after I added cc#3 with a completely different name and made it the default.
Copy #4 was downloaded after I switched back to cc#2.
Copy #5 was downloaded after I switched back to cc#1.

These last 3 copies will not unlock with any variation of my name, the cc name, or any combo that I could come up with.

I then took each copy of the book, changed its file extension from epub to zip, unzipped it, and compared the files inside there which handle the encryption (mainly a file called rights.xml). Copies 1, 2, and 3 are different from each other. Copies 3, 4, and 5 are identical.

Therefore, since the encryption previously changed when I changed my default credit and now it does not, I can only conclude that my credit card number is no longer involved. It may still use my B&N account name as one of the seeds to create the hash since that hasn't changed. But I can't see how it still uses the credit card number.

I assume that you tried the exact data shown for the order number for copy 3?
Or do you not have an order number for copy 3, because you didn't make a purchase with that card? That you just changed the default data? Also, I take it none of the last 3 were downloaded using Nook for PC?

My current purchases downloaded by Nook for PC are unlocked using my CC data. I can't discuss here how I know that to be a fact, but it would be obvious to many here. I doubt that B&N would have singled you out for a different DRM process than what I must use to unlock my purchases.

Luck;
Ken

[Debby_B]

Don't have a too much knowledge on this, but IKMiller has certainly not been singled out, I have had an almost identical experience.

My current solution is to stop buying from B&N.

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

I doubt that B&N would have singled you out for a different DRM process than what I must use to unlock my purchases.

I just created a brand-new account with one name and one credit card attached to that account and I can't find a pattern that creates a working key.

I can read books added to that account using NOOK for PC, but I can't import them into Calibre using the same process that I use for my original (still working) account. B&N has changed the means for encrypting the key.

[Ripplinger]

With my bank issuing a new card number (mandatory due to the Home Depot hackings), I guess I won't be buying from them again either. I wonder if I'll be able to get the occasional free book on the old card number, if B&N will pick it up as no longer active. That's about the most I can see me using B&N again until their books can have DRM removed once again.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Maybe B&N sees how well Amazon does and thinks that they only allow a Kindle or a Kindle app read Kindle books. Maybe that's what we need to do!

Yes: "Let's see, we can't compete on price and selection so let's give up any advantage and just copy them."

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

I assume that you tried the exact data shown for the order number for copy 3?
Or do you not have an order number for copy 3, because you didn't make a purchase with that card? That you just changed the default data? Also, I take it none of the last 3 were downloaded using Nook for PC?

My current purchases downloaded by Nook for PC are unlocked using my CC data. I can't discuss here how I know that to be a fact, but it would be obvious to many here. I doubt that B&N would have singled you out for a different DRM process than what I must use to unlock my purchases.

Luck;
Ken

The book was purchased with card#1. No purchase was made with card#3. I just added it and marked it as the default. All copies in this experiment were downloaded with Tampermonkey. I'm having similar results with new books downloaded with Nook for PC though.

When this thread started due to B&N pulling the download buttons, I downloaded my entire library with Nook for PC. They all unlock with cc#1's info. It was only after adding cc#3 on Sat (10/18) that the problem started.

I don't think B&N has singled me out. I think they are switching accounts over, and it's only hit some of us yet. Before my books unlocked exactly as yours do.

Originally Posted by Debby_B

Don't have a too much knowledge on this, but IKMiller has certainly not been singled out, I have had an almost identical experience.

My current solution is to stop buying from B&N.

Yes, that's my solution too. Pulling the download buttons made me switch to just getting freebies. But now I'm not even doing that. I'm only continuing to fiddle with this because it would be nice to be able to get new "unlockable" copies of my previous purchases. Although the day is fast approaching when there won't be anymore nookbooks to worry about anyway.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

I just created a brand-new account with one name and one credit card attached to that account and I can't find a pattern that creates a working key.

I can read books added to that account using NOOK for PC, but I can't import them into Calibre using the same process that I use for my original (still working) account. B&N has changed the means for encrypting the key.

If you go to Here and then sign in to your account. You should see a list of your recent orders in blue. Clicking on the blue order number should provide Billing Information that includes the last four of the CC# and the Name as it needs to be used to unlock that purchase. The calibre "File type plugins" have a "Customize Plugin" button. Follow that to add a new key (click on the green plus sign).
Use the name as it appears in the billing information and the number of the card with the last four numbers the same as that listed in the Billing Information for that purchase.

Luck;
Ken

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

If you go to Here and then sign in to your account. You should see a list of your recent orders in blue. Clicking on the blue order number should provide Billing Information that includes the last four of the CC# and the Name as it needs to be used to unlock that purchase. The calibre "File type plugins" have a "Customize Plugin" button. Follow that to add a new key (click on the green plus sign).
Use the name as it appears in the billing information and the number of the card with the last four numbers the same as that listed in the Billing Information for that purchase.

Luck;
Ken

That process works on my original (actual) account on which my information hasn't changed in over a year. It does not work on the account that I just created.

[ElspethB]

I wonder if I'll be able to get the occasional free book on the old card number, if B&N will pick it up as no longer active. That's about the most I can see me using B&N again until their books can have DRM removed once again.

Just to let you know: Amazon matches B&N's Free Friday book by offering the same book for free as well. For instance, today's B&N Free Friday book is The Fifth Man by James Lepore, and it's free on Amazon too. That matching policy might apply to other freebies, but I don't know for sure.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by ElspethB

Just to let you know: Amazon matches B&N's Free Friday book by offering the same book for free as well. For instance, today's B&N Free Friday book is The Fifth Man by James Lepore, and it's free on Amazon too. That matching policy might apply to other freebies, but I don't know for sure.

Amazon is usually pretty good about price-matching their books.

I remember the Baen Free Library more or less getting frozen because of this.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ElspethB

Just to let you know: Amazon matches B&N's Free Friday book by offering the same book for free as well. For instance, today's B&N Free Friday book is The Fifth Man by James Lepore, and it's free on Amazon too. That matching policy might apply to other freebies, but I don't know for sure.

I think Amazon usually does offer the same book for free ... at least whenever I've checked a specific book they have done so.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

With my bank issuing a new card number (mandatory due to the Home Depot hackings), I guess I won't be buying from them again either. I wonder if I'll be able to get the occasional free book on the old card number, if B&N will pick it up as no longer active. That's about the most I can see me using B&N again until their books can have DRM removed once again.

Even to get free eBooks from B&N, the card has to be valid.

[murg]

I finally checked out my B&N books to see if I needed to download any of them.

Nope. Never purchased a book from them, and I can live without the free ones I've acquired.

[Difflugia]

I did some fooling around with the NOOK applications this weekend and learned a couple of things.

First, NOOK Study can be used to retrieve your account's DRM key. I left details in the comments at Alf's blog.

Second, NOOK Study installs and runs for me in Linux with a vanilla build of wine 1.6.2. The only problem is that it times out if your library is too large. Mine is apparently too large at ~1000 books.