Overdrive will Stop Supplying Fictionwise on 30 January 2009

[basschick]

2 of the 4 books in twilight series were the only ones expiring, and since i didn't like 'em, i don't really care. but it is a warning of what could happen when any drm company decides to change who they do business with, leaving the customers out in the cold.

btw, they're from Little, Brown.

[Maggie May]

I hope that is the case Kaz. Since no list appeared I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I had 77 eBooks in Mobipocket format. I'm sure some people have a lot more eBooks than I in their bookshelf. Hope they don't lose out too much.
Thanks Kaz.

Slan
Mag.

[Tattncat]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

probably the safest thing is to remove the drm and create open archive copies, and make copies and backups on different media.

How can you remove the drm? I would also like to create open archive copies, etc.

[Robotech_Master]

It's worth noting that the chance of this sort of thing happening is exactly why Fictionwise bought eReader—so they would have a DRM-capable format that they owned so it wouldn't depend on someone else's servers.

[Lemurion]

Yep, FW prefers non-DRM (it sells better for them) but by having their own DRM format they can make sure to offer one for people who insist on it and also guarantee that as long as they're in business the readers are going to be able to access their purchases.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Tattncat

How can you remove the drm? I would also like to create open archive copies, etc.

if your books are in mobi or lit format it can be done ; not sure about the others. do a search for ConvertLit and mobidedrm to find out how.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Tattncat

How can you remove the drm?

For Adobe you can't, but see post # 72 on ADE being ok if archived locally. For MOBI use mobidedrm. For MS Reader use "ConvertLIT GUI". For eReader use ereader2html.

Note that in the US, there is no exception to the ban on DRM removal due to the lack of a re-download capability. What the Library of Congress (in charge of defining exceptions) says you should do this case is buy the ebook again.

[koland]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I'd already switched to eReader wherever possible - this just makes me glad I only have about half a dozen secure mobi books on FW and about the same in .Lit.

Similar here - over 400 books and only two from overdrive (both mobi, as is almost my entire library). I already had backups, but downloaded again (and the ereader formats for both, since they were both already replaced in my bookshelf).

Hopefully the FTC will hear about this in their DRM meeting.

[GntlmnBndt]

Originally Posted by Robotech_Master

It's worth noting that the chance of this sort of thing happening is exactly why Fictionwise bought eReader—so they would have a DRM-capable format that they owned so it wouldn't depend on someone else's servers.

Excellent point. They said that at the time they purchased eReader, but I had forgotten until you mentioned it.

When I went with the iPod Touch, I decided to limit my purchases to unprotected files (most of my library) or eReader. At times it has been a bit limiting, in terms of choice. At the moment, I feel a bit smug, having dodged a bullet.

And, yes, I do know that I could buy other files and remove the DRM. I choose not to. Let's leave that for another thread.

The Bandit

[RWood]

Originally Posted by kazbates

I did a little research into my list of ebooks that are not yet available for replacement and found that they are all books published by Kensington. I went further and found that Kensington offers ebooks for sale on their website and the lit format is still available there. Of course, I have no intention of buying them again, but the fact that Kensington has their own ebook store and that the replacements are not yet available at Fictionwise is interesting.

The question begs to be asked: In this economy, why would a server who is being paid on time and per contract cut off a revenue source? Even if the contract is with a competitor of sorts, why shoot yourself in the foot?

So many questions, so few answers. . .
Kaz

All contracts have a cost associated with them. A cost to administer -- the legal and accounting stuff -- and a cost to execute the contract -- the server resources etc. Fictionwise admitted that OD was only a small part of their total sales so perhaps the costs to OD of keeping Fictionwise as a customer were higher than the profit they derived from the small Fictionwise sales. Thus profits can rise even though total sales decline (all other things being equal.)

The publishers will not take a major hit as most people will simply purchase the book through another retailer. (In this case total OD profits rise even more than the prior case while sales decline only slightly from those people that do not go elsewhere for the books.)

[mjh215]

Think this was punishment for purchasing eReader, Overdrive seeing them as moving into a competitor range as opposed to client?

-MJ

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by mjh215

Think this was punishment for purchasing eReader, Overdrive seeing them as moving into a competitor range as apposed to client?

-MJ

I think they did it for one of two reasons: either to increase revenue or to reduce costs.

Beyond that I have no idea. I don't know which one either.

[mgrunk]

Out of 296 books, 19 are affected, but only 3 of those are unavailable - one those is a favorite of mine, The Night's Dawn Trilogy

I wish there were a better way to bulk download - I think I have books that I didn't get downloaded properly when I moved to my new platform, the Sony Reader.

I need to find a better way of keeping track. I had nearly everything downloaded and via Calibre all in nice categories, but my laptop crashed (unrecoverable), and I have to do it all over again.

I had another book that I couldn't download a few months ago - The Descent due to the DRM format I had purchased it in and the company that offered it pulling it. It's available at FW, but my original copy couldn't be downloaded again. FW credited me back the cost of the book.

I do think it illustrates the issue w/ DRM - although the whole stupid idea that you would tie a book to a device is beyond me.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by RWood

All contracts have a cost associated with them. A cost to administer -- the legal and accounting stuff -- and a cost to execute the contract -- the server resources etc. Fictionwise admitted that OD was only a small part of their total sales so perhaps the costs to OD of keeping Fictionwise as a customer were higher than the profit they derived from the small Fictionwise sales. Thus profits can rise even though total sales decline (all other things being equal.)

The publishers will not take a major hit as most people will simply purchase the book through another retailer. (In this case total OD profits rise even more than the prior case while sales decline only slightly from those people that do not go elsewhere for the books.)

Ah! That helps clarify things! Thanks!
I'm sorry to say that I am stuck in consumer mode and don't really see the other side of the equation. I guess that explains those grades I got in my accounting classes in college!!
Kaz

[slboyd]

GROAN... doesn't this kind of stuff get old...

I have 5 books going away on Fictionwise and all available on ereader... but I just hate that this kind of stuff comes up. I hate DRM...

Since I am new to this forum and have just started reading about all the options to de-DRM my files... I guess I'm going to be busy for a while...

Steph