OK, what's Kobo SDRM?

[graycyn]

I'm guessing it's a social DRM?

But it's the first time I've encountered this. I had an inexpensive J.K. Rowling book in my cart, and I went over to buy something else that popped up for $1.99, and thought I'd just go ahead and get the Rowling book for $2.99 while I was at it.

When I went to download my books, the Rowling had two choices:

Adobe DRM and Kobo SDRM

I popped a quick Google query, and got nothing. So I'm asking if anyone has encountered this, and if so, have you downloaded the SDRM option and gotten it safely backed up in Calibre without issue?

I played safe and stuck with the known Adobe DRM.

[PeterT]

Interesting. I tried a search and got an AI response

Kobo eReaders support two main types of Digital Rights Management (DRM) to protect content: Adobe DRM and Social DRM (watermarking).

• Adobe DRM: Requires using Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) to transfer protected books (often in .acsm format) to your Kobo.
• Social DRM: These are not locked, but often contain user information (name, email) in the metadata.
• DRM-Free: Some books on the Kobo store are DRM-free, which can be verified in the "eBook Details" section at the bottom of the book's page.

[Sirtel]

I haven't encountered it myself, but googling gave me a result that yes, it's social DRM, meaning watermark.

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I haven't encountered it myself, but googling gave me a result that yes, it's social DRM, meaning watermark.

OK, that's what I figured it likely was, maybe I'll go back and download the watermarked version for fun.

Social DRM is what the ebook industry should move to if you ask me, but I won't hold my breath.


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[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by graycyn

OK, that's what I figured it likely was, maybe I'll go back and download the watermarked version for fun.

Social DRM is what the ebook industry should move to if you ask me, but I won't hold my breath.


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Do you really want social DRM? If your account gets hacked or you lose your Reader, those eBooks could end up on on the net and you'd get the blame for it.

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do you really want social DRM? If your account gets hacked or you lose your Reader, those eBooks could end up on on the net and you'd get the blame for it.

I think you misunderstand the situation. The choice publishers give you are:
- ebook with DRM
- ebook with watermark
- go pirate your ebook

I think the only cases where I was able to get ebooks without watermarks are
- Buying from the author (happens rarely)
- Humblebundle / Fanatical
- Kickstarter

As you can see, most of your ebooks will have watermarks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

I think you misunderstand the situation. The choice publishers give you are:
- ebook with DRM
- ebook with watermark
- go pirate your ebook

I think the only cases where I was able to get ebooks without watermarks are
- Buying from the author (happens rarely)
- Humblebundle / Fanatical
- Kickstarter

As you can see, most of your ebooks will have watermarks.

Any eBooks I buy with DRM, I only buy if I can remove the DRM. Currently, I can remove the DRM on eBooks from Amazon, eBooks.com, and Kobo. None of the ePub I purchase with DRM have watermarks. Amazon eBooks do have DRM, but DeDRM removes that DRM or not.

So if from Kobo I ever get the choice of Adobe DRM or social DRM, I'll go with Adobe DRM. However, I will download both versions and do a compare with calibre to see where the watermarks are.

[rantanplan]

Let me get this right. You have the choice between this version:
https://www.kobo.com/de/de/ebook/exo...yqo4bUo&cPos=3

and this version:
https://www.kobo.com/de/de/ebook/exo...yqo4bUo&cPos=1

And you take the version with DRM?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Let me get this right. You have the choice between this version:
https://www.kobo.com/de/de/ebook/exo...yqo4bUo&cPos=3

and this version:
https://www.kobo.com/de/de/ebook/exo...yqo4bUo&cPos=1

And you take the version with DRM?

If the version without DRM has social DRM and I can remove the DRM from the version with DRM, then yes, I'll take the version with DRM.

[rashkae]

Considering the world will very quickly be replacing the completely innept Adobe DRM with Readium, I think we should be *encouraging* adoption of social DRM. I didn't even know that was an option in Kobo.
If, (or if you prefer, when) my computer gets hacked, the silly little e-books will be the least of my worries.

[Cactus Chef]

Assuming SDRM is just a watermark and the file itself is ultimately in plaintext, shouldn't it be trivial to remove any member info from the downloaded book metadata?

This is a forum of enthusiasts, after all, who regularly brag about editing every book they buy to standardize the book's stylesheets and hyphenation.

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do you really want social DRM? If your account gets hacked or you lose your Reader, those eBooks could end up on on the net and you'd get the blame for it.

Chances of me losing my reader are small. I practically go into full panic attack mode when I misplace a reader!

Overall, for consumers, I think social DRM is a better way to go. But certainly, caution is needed.

I suspect for most, the danger would be less for device or account loss, than over-sharing such ebooks with "trusted" friends and family. But that's on the book purchaser.


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[issybird]

Originally Posted by rashkae

Considering the world will very quickly be replacing the completely innept Adobe DRM with Readium, I think we should be *encouraging* adoption of social DRM. I didn't even know that was an option in Kobo.
If, (or if you prefer, when) my computer gets hacked, the silly little e-books will be the least of my worries.

Bingo. Readium will be a game-changer and especially those who deDRM all their purchases should enthusiastically switch to SDRM when possible. Help make it look like a viable alternative.

I'm trying to imagine a scenario where my computer gets hacked and it's worth the hacker's while to upload my library to the darknet. Something can be theoretically possible but not be worth considering, certainly not if it cuts off more worthwhile actions.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Let me get this right. You have the choice between this version:
https://www.kobo.com/de/de/ebook/exo...yqo4bUo&cPos=3

and this version:
https://www.kobo.com/de/de/ebook/exo...yqo4bUo&cPos=1

And you take the version with DRM?

I think that Social DRM has come to Kobo from the Tolino ecosystem which would tie in to the links posted by @rantaplan from the Kobo Germany store.

Curious as to what book the OP had seen in the store that had SDRM applied.

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[John F]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Assuming SDRM is just a watermark and the file itself is ultimately in plaintext, shouldn't it be trivial to remove any member info from the downloaded book metadata?

This is a forum of enthusiasts, after all, who regularly brag about editing every book they buy to standardize the book's stylesheets and hyphenation.

I would assume social DRM isn't just limited to metadata?