Amazon and DRM changes

[stumped]

Replying to Zodwallop

I would argue that stripping library books to read once outside of ADE IS probably cricket.
It's just format or time shifting which does not stop author from getting paid for the loan, and ADE is a dreadful pc reader. If u can do it for a CD , or a TV episode, why not for a book.

Key difference between library and KU is that in the former, author earns the royalty as soon as book is checked out. Pages read or not read is irrelevant ( in UK rules anyway)

Giving step by step detailed instructions for de drm, OTOH, definitely not cricket in these parts. Said instructions now scattered over multiple quoted replies...

[fermin]

Originally Posted by stumped

Now I am lost again. It thought it established that Download and Transfer still worked for All purchases, that only people with no e ink device were inconvenienced..
D&T not sending KFX for any device

This was all muddled in with the "why can't I still steal my rentals" complaints, and I am easily confused, so which facts did I miss

For D&T to work, you need a Kindle device registered to your account. Then you have to find that device's serial number and enter it in the DeDRM plugin settings.

The way I see how this works: Each Kindle serial number is unique. When you use the "download&transfer" function on a book you have to tell to which of your Kindle devices. The eBook is then encrypted on the fly and can only be decrypted/read by a device with the corresponding serial number. The DeDRM tool pretends to be your physical device and decrypts the file when you import the downloaded file into Calibre.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by stumped

Now I am lost again. It thought it established that Download and Transfer still worked for All purchases, that only people with no e ink device were inconvenienced..
D&T not sending KFX for any device

This was all muddled in with the "why can't I still steal my rentals" complaints, and I am easily confused, so which facts did I miss

From the original post:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Kindle for PC

• Books published after January 3, 2023 cannot be downloaded using earlier versions (1.26 and prior) of Kindle for PC.
• While the newest version (1.39) of Kindle for PC will download them, it will be in a version of KFX that DeDRM cannot break.
• Except for books only available as KFX, books published before January 3 are still currently able to be downloaded in a format that can be DeDRM'd.
• Books borrowed from Kindle Unlimited can still be downloaded on K4PC <1.26 if it was published before January 3.

Download and Transfer

• If you have an e-Ink Kindle, "Download and Transfer" is still available for purchased books, regardless of when they were published. These files can be DeDRM'd.
• However, books borrowed from Kindle Unlimited are not eligible for Download & Transfer. (Note that authors get paid per page read, which cannot be tracked if a KU book is read offline.)

[stumped]

Maybe its time for all that to go in a sticky. Which we can self rightously link to even if no one reads ot

[ownedbycats]

That's... why I put it in the original post?

[stumped]

Whoops. 20 page thread = too long to start at the very beginning
Even though that's a very good place to start...

...

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by fermin

For D&T to work, you need a Kindle device registered to your account. Then you have to find that device's serial number and enter it in the DeDRM plugin settings.

Which Amazon conveniently puts on the web page for your devices. No confusion over I l 1 O 0 etc, or typing errors. Just copy and paste.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I'm surprised at the amount of people stripping DRM from Kindle Unlimited books (or at least the amount of discussion about it). It just doesn't seem quite cricket to me. KU books are rentals and because of their streaming nature the books should be read with WiFi on to ensure the author is properly reimbursed.

Stripping DRM to read them on another device feels wrong. Similar to doing the same with library books. In both cases, there's a give and take to reading these books for free or at a reduced price.

If you want to read Kindle Unlimited, get a Kindle and read on it.

I agree its not "cricket". But is it not possible to read on a non amazon device, then go back to the kindle etc, and go to thevend of the book and turn on wifi?

Im also quite surprised to hear an American say "not cricket." Even the English dont say it, except maybe the toffs. The last person I readmusing it was Humphrey Appleby.

[Pajamaman]

I wonder at what date the last kindles able to d/l dedrmed books will die? Or that Amazon stop supporting?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I agree its not "cricket". But is it not possible to read on a non amazon device, then go back to the kindle etc, and go to the end of the book and turn on wifi?

Im also quite surprised to hear an American say "not cricket." Even the English dont say it, except maybe the toffs. The last person I read using it was Humphrey Appleby.

Due to some authors trying to game the system, Amazon evidently looks at how you read the book to decide if the page turns are legitimate so skipping to the end of the book flipping the pages as fast as you can, etc. will not work.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I agree its not "cricket". But is it not possible to read on a non amazon device, then go back to the kindle etc, and go to thevend of the book and turn on wifi?

Amazon changed their tracking method and now looks at time per page so you can't quickly skim a book and reward an author.

I've never used Kindle Unlimited myself. Yet I have purchased enough books that show they are available there that I would probably enjoy it and find it of value. I just don't value it enough to buy a Kindle. Not buying a Kindle means out I miss out on some Kindle perks. I'm just surprised others don't feel the same way.

Im also quite surprised to hear an American say "not cricket." Even the English dont say it, except maybe the toffs. The last person I readmusing it was Humphrey Appleby.

It likely comes from my love of old movies/TV/radio/novels and soforth.

I have all sorts of random stuff rattling around in my head.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by stumped

Replying to Zodwallop

I would argue that stripping library books to read once outside of ADE IS probably cricket.

American and UK libraries work differently (the authors do not get a 'per borrow' payment), but that is neither here nor there with my argument.

A borrowed book is not meant to be yours forever. Once you strip the DRM and sideload it, why not keep it? It will eventually happen out of laziness or neglect if not for any other reason.

Still, I could see that a library book is more acceptable than a KU book due to the scheme used for payment.

[ownedbycats]

I updated the original post again, adding a few alternate sites for buying books DRM-free or easily-removed ADE DRM. Any others I should add?

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by stumped

Whoops. 20 page thread = too long to start at the very beginning
Even though that's a very good place to start...

The reason the first post of a long (or not so long) running thread gets updated is to save someone from having to read the entire thread.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I updated the original post again, adding a few alternate sites for buying books DRM-free or easily-removed ADE DRM. Any others I should add?

Smashwords. It's not just erotic fiction (the original reason). No DRM ever. Now part of Draft to Digital. We use them to distribute to Apple, Barnes & Nobel (both places to avoid), Kobo and others.

Google PlayStore Books. Their payment method system is a bit abusive, but maybe you can use a gift card? They have DRM free and Adobe DRM (but sometimes the download only works in Google Books App, a bug). Also some free books.