ePub gets (yet) another DRM system

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by John F

I was just curious why you would use the word "suspect"; you could just say there are "few".

And than we could nitpick the definition of few.

Unfortunately open ePubs (in my experience at least) are generally not the type of book that the typical person actually wants to read. The ones I've seen have tended toward rather heavy-weight academic tomes. But that may of course simply indicate that I've been looking in the wrong place .

[stumped]

i have had at least one (UK) library loan that appeared with no DRM. e.g. when I did download epub at checkout I got a whole book but with a gibberish file name, not a licence file for ADE. I don't recall the specific title though. would have been fiction, not non fiction.

[John F]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Unfortunately open ePubs (in my experience at least) are generally not the type of book that the typical person actually wants to read. The ones I've seen have tended toward rather heavy-weight academic tomes. But that may of course simply indicate that I've been looking in the wrong place .

Maybe different here in the U.S.? For the link I provided, of the 4,573 books 4,227 are categorized as fiction.

For example, some of Brandon Sanderson's books are available.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I strongly suspect that there are few publishers who would be willing to allow libraries to lend ebooks without DRM, and its absence would completely destroy the textbook rental market. Like it or not, DRM has its place.

For the libraries, the DRM also serves to enforce the time limit on a loan. If I borrow an open epub from my local library, it does not have a limited reading period. Given the limits on lending with most ebooks obtained by libraries, having a single patron borrow and not return a book might be a bit of an issue.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Unfortunately open ePubs (in my experience at least) are generally not the type of book that the typical person actually wants to read. The ones I've seen have tended toward rather heavy-weight academic tomes. But that may of course simply indicate that I've been looking in the wrong place .

I had a quick look at the open epubs that my library's Overdrive offers, and it's not that at all. One of the biggest categories there is romance, and it includes such heavy-hitting authors as Nalini Singh, Courtney Milan, Lauren Dane, Jennie Jones, Sarah Barrie.

[stumped]

In a way, it's irrelevant? The current library standard of DRM is not exactly fort Knox. Anyone who want to crack it, can.

For me, as the library reading apps improve, like Libby, I am ok with reading in that an not bothering with the hassle of downloading epub via ade. Yes, moon reader is more customisable but Libby is good enough for a read it once novel.

[darryl]

Originally Posted by stumped

In a way, it's irrelevant? The current library standard of DRM is not exactly fort Knox. Anyone who want to crack it, can.

For me, as the library reading apps improve, like Libby, I am ok with reading in that an not bothering with the hassle of downloading epub via ade. Yes, moon reader is more customisable but Libby is good enough for a read it once novel.

If you only read library books this is a viable option. If you "purchase" and don't keep your own backups, then I hope that you don't live to regret it.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by darryl

If you only read library books this is a viable option. If you "purchase" and don't keep your own backups, then I hope that you don't live to regret it.

the only store with DRM that I buy from is amazon uk, and I have a workflow for de-drming those via an old version of Kindle for PC.
i use the local(overdrive) library as a source of read-it-once & return it novels

[darryl]

Originally Posted by stumped

the only store with DRM that I buy from is amazon uk, and I have a workflow for de-drming those via an old version of Kindle for PC.
i use the local(overdrive) library as a source of read-it-once & return it novels

In that case you are very well set.

[Ruskie_it]

Originally Posted by MyDK

Readium LCP is a reality:
https://www.edrlab.org/2017/09/20/de...cp-mobile-app/
And it will become a DRM standard for ebooks within next 3 years:
https://www.edrlab.org/2018/09/11/an...-iso-standard/
They are also considering including PDF. So, in Europe I am sure, it will be accepted and used

The clock is ticking...

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by fbrzvnrnd

I hate DRM, but this news means e-reader apps could emancipate themselves from Adobe Mobile.

I don't think so.
Someone has to pay for this, and small companies will be financially-forced to join one or the other of the big players.

What I find it to be the most dangerous, is that the installed base of readers would become useless for the new books. Software can be updated (upgraded here would be a misnomer ), but portable players would be an instant kill.
Everyone would be forced, if they want to, to move to the new platforms, like iPads or Android tablets, which can do pretty much everything (the market for photo and video lost significant shares, since everyone was happy with the quality of the cellphone/tablet photos).

This would either force the normal citizen to change and pay more, or kill the ebooks niche. I doubt clever people would move along, since the new books, written under contract, became mass-products, as opposed to real books, written by people that had really something to say (Aristotle, Plato, and all authors before Bern 1860).

[Quoth]

Best option is NO DRM.
Copyright is important, but DRM isn't the way to enforce it.

[JSWolf]

People will not buy eBooks with DRM they cannot either use or remove. So this DRM mentioned in the first post is worthless. There are too many devices with RMSDK and also here is Overdrive. So if any publisher and/or store switches to this DRM, sales will tank.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Ghitulescu

I don't think so.


This would either force the normal citizen to change and pay more, or kill the ebooks niche. I doubt clever people would move along, since the new books, written under contract, became mass-products, as opposed to real books, written by people that had really something to say (Aristotle, Plato, and all authors before Bern 1860).

So no one after 1860 had nothing important to say and did not write "real books"?
Not to mention that authors used to be paid by the word and would pad their books to increase their payments.
Apache

[frahse]

Oh hum, "The NeverEnding Story!"