Amazon uses DMCA to restrict where you can buy e-books - Page 25

RobbieClarken · 03-15-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But, one thing Amazon did not mention.... Mobipocket Reader 6.0 can get the K1's PID 100% legally. So if you have that version Mobipocket Reader or access to it, install it and then get your PID 100% legally. No idea if it works with the K2. But if you have a K1, it works. So have at it. And since they did not mention kindlefix.py, that's ok to use as well. I'm just saying, there's a way around this nonsense (for now) for K1 owners.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24285

Well the take-down notice mentioned threads referring to KindlePID.py but it also spoke broadly of removing "all such anti-circumvention [sic] technologies, products, services, devices, components, or parts thereof". So perhaps they would consider links to Mobipocket Reader 6.0 as also being illegal. The fact of the matter is that the is very little sense behind this demand. MobileRead didn't host the files and the 'primary purpose' of KindlePID.py was not to circumvent DRM so the DMCA should not even apply (also, is MobileRead even hosted in the US?). I suspect that Amazon's lawyers wouldn't have a leg to stand on if this went to court - they are either ignorant, were bluffing about taking legal action or know that they can cause MobileRead enough pain with legal fees that they can intimidate the site owners into backing down. Whatever the case, it worked.

Luckily the net strips power from these companies ability to bully without repercussions and I suspect the bad press that Amazon is getting may make them reluctant to use the same tactics in the future.

radiationman · 03-15-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonist

Ah, but if the content is not removed, then someone has to file a claim. They can't just send the sheriff, to cuff the owner of the site.

At least not yet.

But there are provisions for fines and such....

Alisa · 03-15-2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I don't see the difference between purchasing an eBook from Amazon and reading in on my wife's iPod Touch or liberating it and reading it on my 505. I'm not giving it out. I've paid for it (unless it was free). I'm not causing anyone to lose any income. But Amazon doesn't see it that way. They see me as the bad guy. The bad guys can already remove the DRM and give it away. So why punish the good guys. All that will do is drive us to the darknet to get these ebooks without paying. Way to go DRM.

My guess is they think that the population of people with jailbroken iPhones is much more likely to post these books on the pirate interwebs than Kindle owners or people who just want to read on another device.

Alisa · 03-15-2009, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Section 1 Article 1...

We at Amazon will never snoop on your Kindle. We will never look at the content you have on your Kindle other then what you have purchased via Amazon. Any other content is your and we will not take notice that it is on your Kindle. We will leave it alone. We well stay away. We will treat it like it doesn't exist. We are sorry we looked before. We will never do it again.

Well, we have no reason to believe they have looked before. Many of us have been reading deDRMed content for months with no issue. Still, I would be WAY more comfortable if they ensured my non-Amazon content was private.

snipenekkid · 03-15-2009, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I am not a happy duck.

Hey duck, maybe this will make you a bit of a cheery duck. It is a totally by accident picture I took of a duck coming in for a landing last year. It seems like a bit of walking on water is gonna be needed to fix this fiasco so here ya go!

daffy4u · 03-15-2009, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snipenekkid

Hey duck, maybe this will make you a bit of a cheery duck. It is a totally by accident picture I took of a duck coming in for a landing last year. It seems like a bit of walking on water is gonna be needed to fix this fiasco so here ya go!

Pretty, looks kinda like my cousin Dicky Duck (it's the purple on the wing). Haven't seen him in several migrations. Thanks for sharing the picture, it's a great shot! I'll have to hire you for my next avatar portrait.

snipenekkid · 03-15-2009, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Pretty, looks kinda like my cousin Dicky Duck (it's the purple on the wing). Haven't seen him in several migrations. Thanks for sharing the picture, it's a great shot! I'll have to hire you for my next avatar portrait.

hahahaha

Glad there was a small bit of humor for you. You should see the splash down landing which followed. I know it was not the sharpest of shots but was fun to take when testing the new gear. If I run across any other fun shots I'll share them. I always shoot ducks with my new lenses because ducks are colorful and offer a good test for the optics of the lens. Plus the ducks we have around here are like crack whores for "duck chow", ie Wonder Bread.

As to the whole Kindle fiasco, I just am happy to say I am glad I did not buy into it simply because I did not like the gray display background. And something about the company store feeling of the Kindle, and to be honest the Sony too, made me uneasy.

We'll just have to see what the rest of the year brings with all the new devices coming out. That is unless Amazon buy PVI or something like that. Stranger things have happened. And these days in the US the anti-monopoly or anti-competitive practices laws are the corporation's "beaches"!

HarryT · 03-15-2009, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Since it can read DRMed Mobipocket eBooks, then yes it should very well be able to read Library eBooks as long as the time/date works.

That was my point, Jon - I don't believe that it does. The BeBook (and clones) support "standard" Mobi DRM but not - AFAIK - the "time limiting" version of DRM that libraries use.

pdurrant · 03-15-2009, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

If I can find an email address I will send a copy to Mr. Bezos as well.

jeff@amazon.com

Gafle · 03-15-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonist

The only way to deal with this is at the ballot box: don't vote for a representative, who support DMCA-like legislation, and vote for those who oppose it, regardless of party affiliation. And let them know why. If Joe the Plumber makes enough noise, at least some will respond.

BTW, is there a list of who supports DMCA-type legislation somewhere, and who opposes the DMCA?

The DMCA sounds like a typical Bush-blunder but was in fact signed by a democrat - Bill Clinton. So I guess the current US administration is supportive of it.

-Thomas- · 03-15-2009, 07:45 AM

I've just closed my account at Amazon.com:

Quote:

Hey,

I've recently learned that Amazon.com forced a community website (Mobileread.com) to remove certain programs that helped people to read library books on their Kindle. Although I don't own a Kindle I am very disappointed about how Amazon treats its customers in this respect and fear that I'm not seen as a valued customer anymore. That's why I ask you to close my account.

Best regards
Thomas

If you'd like to close your account too, feel free to use and adapt my text.

JSWolf · 03-15-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

Well, we have no reason to believe they have looked before. Many of us have been reading deDRMed content for months with no issue. Still, I would be WAY more comfortable if they ensured my non-Amazon content was private.

They may not have looked before, but that doesn't mean they won't assert the TOS and look now.

netseeker · 03-15-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Thomas-

I've just closed my account at Amazon.com:

If you'd like to close your account too, feel free to use and adapt my text.

With all respect, i think we should follow Alexanders policy and don't forget that we are interested in a good relationship to Amazon.

Imho a open letter to Amazon signed by all of us - the MR users and especially all the kindle-customers here - would be a better way.

akwant · 03-15-2009, 09:21 AM

my thoughts exactly netseeker.
Amazon will listen to customers first. Thus, please go to the help page of your Amazon country site, there’s a button called “contact us”, just push it and write polite but clear statement about the whole affair.
Please remember that the people who will read the message are just doing their jobs, there’s no need to abuse them. THANK YOU!

nekokami · 03-15-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonist

Ah, but if the content is not removed, then someone has to file a claim. They can't just send the sheriff, to cuff the owner of the site.

At least not yet.

No, but if the content is removed, the site is held blameless (the "safe harbor" provision) afterward, even if the matter goes to court. If the content is left up, and it does go to the courts, the site no longer has the "safe harbor" status, and if the content is, in fact, found to be infringing, the site gets hit with fees.

This is part of why I so strongly disapprove of the DMCA. It is too easy to use it as a bullying tactic.

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03-15-2009, 09:21 AM	#374
akwant closed Posts: 116 Karma: 278 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: ---	my thoughts exactly netseeker. Amazon will listen to customers first. Thus, please go to the help page of your Amazon country site, there’s a button called “contact us”, just push it and write polite but clear statement about the whole affair. Please remember that the people who will read the message are just doing their jobs, there’s no need to abuse them. THANK YOU!