Is DRM a taboo subject on these forums

[Big Library Guy]

Hi
I am currently facing a huge dilemma.
I am moving my Kindle Library to Calibre, close to 500 ebooks and DRM protected.
I installed the DRM plug-in but it does nothing at all !!!!

having installed the plugin, restarted Calibre and then dragged 2 protected books onto the Calibre main panel, everything seems ok during import, but if I try to read them or convert them to mobi I get a pop-up window telling me 'This book is locked by DRM' etc

what is the best program/plugin to remove DRM????

[darryl]

If you look at the foot of the page you will see a link to guidelines. FYI this is a partial extract:

While DRM removal may be discussed in the abstract, the following are not allowed at MobileRead:

discussing DRM removal to pirate content;
providing detailed how-to instructions;
uploading of DRM-removal tools;
direct download links to DRM-removal tools.

The guidelines do permit me to post a link to Apprentice Alf's blog where you can find information on DRM removal and ask for help:

https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/

[chrisparker]

Apprentice Alf is your friend.

[Big Library Guy]

Hi
Sorry for breaking the guidelines !!!
Hi Darryl, sorry to tell you that link is useless. had already installed that specific plugin before I first posted and it fails every time.
thanks all

[eschwartz]

Did you also know that you can ask for help with the plugin on the plugin website (they have a comments section), or was that advice of darryl's, at least, of help?

[Big Library Guy]

hi
thanks for everyone's help but gave up on plug-in and bought a program that worked first time

[darryl]

Originally Posted by Big Library Guy

hi
thanks for everyone's help but gave up on plug-in and bought a program that worked first time

What is the name of this wonderful program?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Big Library Guy

hi
thanks for everyone's help but gave up on plug-in and bought a program that worked first time

Well, clearly you didn't read the simple instructions on the Apprentice Alf website.

But if it makes you happier to pay money to people who commit IP theft, violation of copyright, general shady practices by stealing GPL3-licensed code and then trying to sell closed binary derivatives, and lying about the full capabilities of the code they stole... well, I hope your conscience doesn't hurt too much, and I also hope you don't get a virus, because who knows what people that untrustworthy will try to sell you.

But I am pretty sure they haven't done anything to make it easier to use, except for removing "confusing" options.

...

Anyway, this thread was clearly a waste of time. Since you apparently weren't actually interested in listening to our advice in the first place.

[Big Library Guy]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Well, clearly you didn't read the simple instructions on the Apprentice Alf website.

But if it makes you happier to pay money to people who commit IP theft, violation of copyright, general shady practices by stealing GPL3-licensed code and then trying to sell closed binary derivatives, and lying about the full capabilities of the code they stole... well, I hope your conscience doesn't hurt too much, and I also hope you don't get a virus, because who knows what people that untrustworthy will try to sell you.

But I am pretty sure they haven't done anything to make it easier to use, except for removing "confusing" options.

...

Anyway, this thread was clearly a waste of time. Since you apparently weren't actually interested in listening to our advice in the first place.

I apologise in advance and this posting is not meant to be offensive to anyone.

thank you eschwartz for your opinions.

however you make assumptions which frankly are incorrect as you do not have all the information to make them.
before i posted the first time to this thread, i spent 2 days trying to get the ***simple*** instructions to install correctly.
that included using 3 pc's (mine, wifes and server) and a number of versions of Calibre, and none worked for me
they were 3 x windows 7 64bit and i also tried on our 3 x Dell Venue tablets rinning Windows 10 but no joy.
I have myself, written programs for 30 years and so following, or writing, instructions is very familiar to me.

I am sorry but your rant about choosing to buy working software and its evils about stolen code and viruses, etc BUT this could also apply to any free software (including this plug-in for all I know)
in my own experience free software has a far greater chance of the **evils and corruption** you seem so concerned about.

I am having difficulty understanding your position with regard to morals over software ??

You seem to be ok supporting, and recomending, a plug-in which its prime function is to break the law but it cant be discussed openly (guidelines) hush hush

You seem to be against commercial software as a whole, so how much software on your machine is pirated and how much is genuine paid for software, such as windows etc.

I already run multiple plugins with no problems, only this one is failing, perhaps some untested conflict exists

And this thread has NOT been a waste of time at all, in my opinion : Lets stop this argument NOW please

[darryl]

@Big Library Guy.

Let me summarise. You were new to the plugin. You ran into problems. You assumed that the problems were with the plugin or calibre, and not with you. You posted here, a forum where the rules did not allow us to help you. You were directed in multiple posts to a forum where you could and would have got help. You were advised not to buy the program you no doubt bought and were informed of the misappropriation of the code. You then bought the product, knowing that it was using misappropriated code. You failed to make a single post seeking help at Apprentice Alf's blog, though you seem to have had no difficulty posting here at Mobileread.

It is your right to be ripped-off. As the old saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water .........." Your last post in reply to escwartz has a number of issues which I feel the need to address.

The beauty of open source code is that the source code is available. Given that you have "written programs for 30 years" and hence "following, or writing, instructions is very familiar" to you, you would presumably be capable of reading the code to check for viruses. But only, of course, if the code is available to you. You were specifically advised about the "stolen" code but chose to ignore this advise. Quite frankly, the availability of the source code makes your statement that open source code is more vulnerable to viruses and stolen code is ridiculous.

The main purpose of the plugin is not to "break the law". A cursory reading of the Anti-Piracy Notice at Apprentice Alf's blog explicitly states the purposes of the Tools including the plugin. Removing DRM may indeed be illegal in some jurisdictions. In others it is permitted. In some it is unclear. The Internet spans all legal jurisdictions. If removing DRM is illegal in your jurisdiction don't do it. Mobileread has issued guidelines that the forum cannot be used to help posters remove DRM. However, DRM can be and is discussed. Given the sometimes aggressive approach adopted by rights-holder's on occasions the ban on providing actual assistance is a sensible precaution. If help was provided on Mobileread to a person in a Country where DRM removal is illegal there is a remote possiblity of Mobileread being involved in any ensuing litigation. You will appreciate that forums like Mobileread cannot afford this, even if their actions are ultimately held to be correct. The Mobileread library excludes many books which are in the Public Domain in some jurisdictions but not in others for this reason. Your allegations of hypocrisy are unfounded. If you do post again you should consider having the grace to apologise.

eschwartz is a supporter of Open Source Software, as am I and many others on these forums. Quite frankly, I don't know whether he is against commercial software. Personally I am not, though I don't have need for much of it. I run Sabayon Linux and I understand he runs Arch Linux. I do have 3 pieces of Commercial Software installed, all fully paid for. But I could easily get by without any. There is little need for Commercial Software in Linux. Your implication that eschwartz is a software pirate is not only offensive but has no basis whatsoever. Again you should apologise.

I suppose we will never know why this plugin did not work for you. However, as the program we assume you bought uses the same base code, my money is on user error.

The thread was a waste of time because of your arrogant failure to follow the good advice you were given.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by darryl

You were advised not to buy the program you no doubt bought and were informed of the misappropriation of the code.

The OP first informed us that he had purchased a program in post #6.

I can't see any advice that he should not buy the program in any of the prior posts.

In fact the initial response to the OPs post #6 was a somewhat petulant request for the name of the program. If he had told of it, then one might argue he would have been in breach of the MR guidelines relating to discussing DRM removal.

Moderator Notice
I suggest we take heed the last sentence of the OPs last post

Originally Posted by Big Library Guy

Lets stop this argument NOW please

BR

[Big Library Guy]

Ahh that is so much clearer now , your only Linux Bunnies
Well im not, I worked in the software clouds far above where Linux Bunnies were allowed to go.
I worked only for Fortune 500 companies in 18 different countries and in those worlds Linux just simply cant cut it. I SEE YOU AGREE THAT THERE IS LITTLE NEED (OR INTEREST IN) FOR Commercial Software IN LINUX.

#1 no i did not, I bought the software before I even heard about THE ALLEGED " misappropriation of the code "
#2 not what I said at all - please read before you make comments, I never mentioned open source code once in any of my emails - just commercial vs free software.
#3 I seem to remember the highest courts in the UK and in the USA all agreed with Sony in every case that DRM removal is illegal. I also remember the millions in fines it imposed on those prosecuted. STRANGE THING IS THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS, OR POINTED TO, ON APPRENTICEALFS SITE!!!
#4 A cursory reading of the Anti-Piracy Notice at Apprentice Alf's blog is no guarantee your plugin is legal, unless the website is maintained daily to reflect the rulings of your "local justice system" which would take a full time legally trained person to interpret accurately, and even then any dumbing down of the judgements can never be valid, as they fail to contain all the legal information from the originals PLEASE SEND ME THE PRECISE RULINGS YOU BELIEVE MAKE YOUR PLUG-IN LEGAL !!!! I WOULD DO THE RESEARCH TO PROVE YOU WRONG BUT YOU COULD NEVER AFFORD IT!!
#5 my money is on Linux programmers who are not in a position to test on multiple operating systems before releasing their work upon the world.

When it comes to apologies I think you got that the wrong way around unless you can prove that your plug-in is actually legal as you claim and does not do any of the things you claimed professional software does.

And don't be concerned, I will never use this site again now I know the kinds of people running it !!

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Big Library Guy

And don't be concerned, I will never use this site again now I know the kinds of people running it !!

It's your loss if you don't come back because you had an argument with another member/moderator.

[darryl]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

The OP first informed us that he had purchased a program in post #6.

I can't see any advice that he should not buy the program in any of the prior posts.

In fact the initial response to the OPs post #6 was a somewhat petulant request for the name of the program. If he had told of it, then one might argue he would have been in breach of the MR guidelines relating to discussing DRM removal.


I suggest we take heed the last sentence of the OPs last post



BR

Thanks for pointing this out. I had actually prepared a Post where I warned him about the program but I simplified it before posting and obviously left this out. My mistake in forgetting this and not checking, for which I apologise.

He would only breach the guidelines if he had posted a link to the program, not simply the name of the program.

[BetterRed]

Moderator Notice
@Big Library Guy I'm closing the thread - if you have a problem with that send me a PM. Others should move on.