Amazon and DRM changes

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by VirgoGirl

Putting aside the desire to strip DRM off things I thought I owned because I BOUGHT THEM, if I install the Amazon reading app on my tablet, can I download the ebook through the updated Kindle for PC program and drag and drop onto my tablet in a subfolder so I can read books away from my computer?

No. You must download and read the book in the Kindle app on your tablet, unless you remove the DRM. It's no use sideloading a Kindle book with DRM, it can't be read that way. Kindle DRM is keyed to a specific device.

[Pajamaman]

I'm a little out of the loop. So it seems from what I've read that even though KFX DRM was cracked, the community got fed up doing it because Amazon always quickly fixed the crack. So the community instead turned to cracking DRM on older formats (Az3) available via download on the PC app.

However, Amazon has started to stop Az3 downloads for new books. This means the community will have to crack DRM on KFX, which Amazon will counter.

Will it become as bad as Amazon shutting down Jailbreak loopholes? Can DRM loopholes be practically shutdown, like jailbreaks? I do think that far more resources will be thrown at cracking KFX DRM. It is far more serious than the need for a jailbreak. It will become a game of whackamole. But can the mole be effectively, practically blocked? Will the community run out of loopholes?

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by VirgoGirl

Putting aside the desire to strip DRM off things I thought I owned because I BOUGHT THEM

It has been pretty well established at this point, that you cannot buy ebooks anywhere but only lease a license for an ebook that comes with terms and conditions. You have no intrinsic right to remove DRM, so best get your ebook license from places that don't use DRM schemes, if this is your ultimate goal.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Since they allow downloads, my initial assumption is that team responsible for the algorithm factor it in somehow, even if they cannot measure it directly.

For example, they could contribute an average of the page counts per borrow for the same book for the reading they can measure. Simple to derive, and better than nothing.

There are many, many YouTube videos about KDP Select, how it works, is it worth it, how to interpret reports etc. Maybe there are some more details there, but it would take a long time to find them there. Best way would be to find someone enrolled in KDP Select and pose a question to them.

My assumption could be wrong of course, I just have no evidence either way.

I assume that they do not count downloads as reads at all. They probably count on the Kindle being connected to their servers eventually and all of the accumulated reading stats collected at that time. A Kindle that never connects is probably rare enough that it can be ignored for KU purposes.

Amazon tries to encourage people to keep their Kindles online. They give you reading stats encouraging reading streaks and have contests with badges for reading accomplishments. If you never connect you miss out on those.

Now it seems they going further by moving toward forcing you to connect if you want to read KU books. That is at least circumstantial evidence that page reads won't get counted any other way.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Just checking: Even though K4PC 1.17 still works for books before January 3, comics/graphic novels will not download, regardless of when they were published. Is that right?

It works for me. I can download older comics. Is it not working for you?

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Now it seems they going further by moving toward forcing you to connect if you want to read KU books. That is at least circumstantial evidence that page reads won't get counted any other way.

Which makes no sense. Page reads can be stored and uploaded when you connect. Doesnt need to be real time.

Amazon should be split up. Audible taking 70% is criminal. Scum.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by jhowell

It works for me. I can download older comics. Is it not working for you?

I haven't tried. I'm looking at purchasing some graphic novels, but thought I had read those have already been blocked for download.

Man, Amazon bought ComiXology and now they are pulling this. Digital comics fans are well and truly screwed.

Well, cancelled my ebook preorders and my ComiXology subscriptions.

[mitra1]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

It has been pretty well established at this point, that you cannot buy ebooks anywhere but only lease a license for an ebook that comes with terms and conditions. You have no intrinsic right to remove DRM, so best get your ebook license from places that don't use DRM schemes, if this is your ultimate goal.

The book houses at same time don't have rights to have power to control knowiness. Today Amazon and Kobo have (technical) power to delete ebooks by kindle and kobo ereaders.

If Amazon will decide remove all history books to sustain neo-fascism or neo-stalinism?

Or if Amazon will decide to restrict access to few rich people deleting books by poor people?

No, today's ebook license give a too huge power to Amazon and society should criminalize DRM and until criminalization of them I use and promote anti-DRM practices. For example i produced an italian guide reading original jhowell's guide with link to this forum.

I think that DRM is tolerable if it's only for lending and if it's possible buy a DRM-free copy.

For example i can justify DRM for Kindle unlimited books but not for standard books. I can't justify that Netflix has exclusive movies and Tv series because it's impossible buy single DRM-free copy.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

Which makes no sense. Page reads can be stored and uploaded when you connect. Doesnt need to be real time.

You don't need to be online to read, just to get a new book. That allows Amazon to upload your reading stats from previous books while the new ones download.

If this change rolls out for everyone then you won't be able to keep your device offline forever if you want to use KU.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

It has been pretty well established at this point, that you cannot buy ebooks anywhere but only lease a license for an ebook that comes with terms and conditions. You have no intrinsic right to remove DRM, so best get your ebook license from places that don't use DRM schemes, if this is your ultimate goal.

Not true. Depends on your rountry and the contracts are insufficiently tested Civil Law.

No need to parrot DRM industry propaganda.

In fact Amazon web pages of ebooks you have bought have

Read Now
You own this item. It's available on your Kindle apps and devices.

You also don't entirely own a paper book. You can't give away copies of it if the copyright is still valid. It's a licenced copy.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I'm a little out of the loop. So it seems from what I've read that even though KFX DRM was cracked, the community got fed up doing it because Amazon always quickly fixed the crack. So the community instead turned to cracking DRM on older formats (Az3) available via download on the PC app.

However, Amazon has started to stop Az3 downloads for new books. This means the community will have to crack DRM on KFX, which Amazon will counter.

Will it become as bad as Amazon shutting down Jailbreak loopholes? Can DRM loopholes be practically shutdown, like jailbreaks? I do think that far more resources will be thrown at cracking KFX DRM. It is far more serious than the need for a jailbreak. It will become a game of whackamole. But can the mole be effectively, practically blocked? Will the community run out of loopholes?

If the rumour is correct, Amazon has changed the KFX DRM within hours of it being broken, which indicates they have multiple versions of it ready to be used.

Question: Does the "download and transfer" restriction only count for borrowed books, or purchased books that are also on KU? For obvious reasons I can't test myself.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

If the rumour is correct, Amazon has changed the KFX DRM within hours of it being broken, which indicates they have multiple versions of it ready to be used.

Question: Does the "download and transfer" restriction only count for borrowed books, or purchased books that are also on KU? For obvious reasons I can't test myself.

Only for borrowed.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I'm a little out of the loop. So it seems from what I've read that even though KFX DRM was cracked, the community got fed up doing it because Amazon always quickly fixed the crack. So the community instead turned to cracking DRM on older formats (Az3) available via download on the PC app.

...

I was under the impression that kfx was the newest format, and all the other formats were cracked a while back, and Amazon hasn't changed any of the DRM on the non-kfx formats (just how you can get the older formats)?

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by John F

I was under the impression that kfx was the newest format, and all the other formats were cracked a while back, and Amazon hasn't changed any of the DRM on the non-kfx formats (just how you can the older formats)?

From what I understand, KFX is newest format but has multiple versions. There's some versions that have been reliably broken, but they can only be gotten with certain methods.

AZW3 is older, and it doesnt seem like it's been changed.

Amazon's changes don't seem to be about the DRM itself but more focused on making it harder to get these easier-to-break formats, on newly-published books and KU borrows so far.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Is she aware that authors aren't getting paid if she doesn't read KU books on a Kindle?

If you keep the WiFi off like I do, the authors would not get paid anyway even if read on a Kindle.