geographic restrictions at Fictionwise - Page 34

calvin-c · 11-06-2009, 04:19 PM

I'm not familiar with hotspot shield, but it sounds like an anonymizer-which *is* different from a VPN. An anonymizer might hide where you're coming from, but it doesn't show you as coming from someplace else. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) actually logs you into a network at a location remote from you. Once logged in you can do whatever is allowed on that network-such as running a browser session on that network. The location that *that* browser comes from is, of course, the location of the network.

geertm · 11-06-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvin-c

I'm not familiar with hotspot shield, but it sounds like an anonymizer-which *is* different from a VPN. An anonymizer might hide where you're coming from, but it doesn't show you as coming from someplace else. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) actually logs you into a network at a location remote from you. Once logged in you can do whatever is allowed on that network-such as running a browser session on that network. The location that *that* browser comes from is, of course, the location of the network.

The VPN tunnel will send all your internet data to the alwaysvpn server in the USA, and from there to the destination. So all your internet data will come from an USA ip-address.
The Hotspot shield website does mention VPN, but they never do mention that you will get an USA ip-address. They just talk about hiding your ip-address. Perhaps their VPN servers are not located in the USA?

Greycat, I can of course not guarantee that alwaysvpn will work for you. Perhaps Fictionwise had changed something and this workaround does no longer work. But as it will cost you just $8,50, you might give it a try.

DaleDe · 11-06-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbond1007

Yes but the real question is where is it illegal and who would have the right to prosecute/etc.

I mean that basically (presumably) the contract between the publisher/Fictionwise etc. would be a US contract

Correct but the same publisher also has a contract in the UK and they enforce the restriction. If they don't have the UK contract then the author may have a separate contract in the UK with a different publisher and the two publishers have an agreement. The enforcement is simple, the publisher cuts off the dealer.

Dale

garygibsonsf · 11-07-2009, 01:00 AM

I'd be very cautious about using hotspot shield. I installed it and tried it out a while back, and found that it came loaded with some spyware that took me a couple hours to scrub off my ibook. Not worth the hassle.

lene1949 · 11-07-2009, 03:28 AM

I agree... I can't be bothered.. I just wish they had a search feature, so I don't have to check every single book, I might want... Like a search feature showing books available in Australia...

Also that they only send promotions suited to your region...\

miss_stix · 11-07-2009, 03:31 AM

I have a VPN through WiTopia, which shows me as having a USA based IP address. I have purchased an ebook from Fictionwise through Micropay, the transaction went through, and now I am unable to download the ebook! I am asked to enter my credit card details to verify the download. I have an Australian credit card (and am living in China), and of course, it won't work; I have tried setting the billing country to the US. Any suggestions? I'm getting really annoyed, as I have actually PAID for the ebook!!

miss_stix · 11-07-2009, 03:35 AM

^ an update... I just went through hidemyass.com and was instantly able to download the ebook. No cc verification necessary. Seems a little odd that I couldn't do it through my VPN.

GeoffC · 11-07-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lene1949

I agree... I can't be bothered.. I just wish they had a search feature, so I don't have to check every single book, I might want... Like a search feature showing books available in Australia...

Also that they only send promotions suited to your region...\

GR is a 'realtively new' addition to e-retailers like FW, perhaps it's just a case of introducing fresh changes to their website in order to facilitate a search on geography. after all it is only recently that they have been adding comments on each book page about its availability.

geertm · 11-07-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss_stix

^ an update... I just went through hidemyass.com and was instantly able to download the ebook. No cc verification necessary. Seems a little odd that I couldn't do it through my VPN.

That is strange. I always assumed that a VPN would work just as well. If I ever get the bookshelf check again, I will try my alwaysvpn connection.

HansTWN · 11-07-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss_stix

^ an update... I just went through hidemyass.com and was instantly able to download the ebook. No cc verification necessary. Seems a little odd that I couldn't do it through my VPN.

my guess is that the IP address your VPN uses is already blacklisted. I actually had problems with hidemyass's free service -- a lot of websites have a message indicating that they believe the IP is being used to mask a foreign IP. but using their commercial VPN service always worked. Just used it a few hours ago to purchase a UK only book, too.

sabredog · 11-07-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lene1949

I agree... I can't be bothered.. I just wish they had a search feature, so I don't have to check every single book, I might want... Like a search feature showing books available in Australia...

Also that they only send promotions suited to your region...\

Struck this issue today trying to pre order an SF book from an Aussie author. Cannot buy it as it is geographically restricted.

So I am also looking at a VPN system, perhaps from Road Warrior.

Publishing companies wonder why piracy is growing yet they do NOTHING to make it more attractive and easier for readers to buy ebooks.

Margrete · 11-09-2009, 04:19 PM

I tried hidemyass again to download a book to get around the creditcard verification-thingy. (worked this time somehow, didn't the last time I tried) I had no problem with downloading the book, atleast that's what it looked like, got no error-message or anything, but I can't open it, Nothing happens when I click on the file

Any ideas? (secure mobi-format)

kennyc · 11-09-2009, 04:23 PM

I'm no expert, but what happens when you click on a non-drm mobi ?

geertm · 11-09-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margrete

I tried hidemyass again to download a book to get around the creditcard verification-thingy. (worked this time somehow, didn't the last time I tried) I had no problem with downloading the book, atleast that's what it looked like, got no error-message or anything, but I can't open it, Nothing happens when I click on the file

Any ideas? (secure mobi-format)

The filename probably does not have the ".PRC" extension. Just rename the file to end in ".PRC".
You should also be able to download the book from your bookshelf now (the extra verification should be gone after downloading the book once).

Margrete · 11-09-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I'm no expert, but what happens when you click on a non-drm mobi ?

I have no problem with that, I can open any other mobi-file I have (secure or not) except the one I downloaded using hidemyass.com

can't figure out why. I downloaded it again, same thing happened --> nothing

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11-06-2009, 04:19 PM	#496
calvin-c Guru Posts: 787 Karma: 1575310 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Moon+ Pro	I'm not familiar with hotspot shield, but it sounds like an anonymizer-which is different from a VPN. An anonymizer might hide where you're coming from, but it doesn't show you as coming from someplace else. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) actually logs you into a network at a location remote from you. Once logged in you can do whatever is allowed on that network-such as running a browser session on that network. The location that that browser comes from is, of course, the location of the network.

11-07-2009, 01:00 AM	#499
garygibsonsf Addict Posts: 321 Karma: 432192 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite	I'd be very cautious about using hotspot shield. I installed it and tried it out a while back, and found that it came loaded with some spyware that took me a couple hours to scrub off my ibook. Not worth the hassle.

11-07-2009, 03:28 AM	#500
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	I agree... I can't be bothered.. I just wish they had a search feature, so I don't have to check every single book, I might want... Like a search feature showing books available in Australia... Also that they only send promotions suited to your region...\

11-07-2009, 03:31 AM	#501
miss_stix Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Shanghai, China Device: Sony eBook	I have a VPN through WiTopia, which shows me as having a USA based IP address. I have purchased an ebook from Fictionwise through Micropay, the transaction went through, and now I am unable to download the ebook! I am asked to enter my credit card details to verify the download. I have an Australian credit card (and am living in China), and of course, it won't work; I have tried setting the billing country to the US. Any suggestions? I'm getting really annoyed, as I have actually PAID for the ebook!!

11-07-2009, 03:35 AM	#502
miss_stix Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Shanghai, China Device: Sony eBook	^ an update... I just went through hidemyass.com and was instantly able to download the ebook. No cc verification necessary. Seems a little odd that I couldn't do it through my VPN.

11-09-2009, 04:19 PM	#507
Margrete Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 14906 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Norway Device: pixelar ebookreader (Hanlin V3)	I tried hidemyass again to download a book to get around the creditcard verification-thingy. (worked this time somehow, didn't the last time I tried) I had no problem with downloading the book, atleast that's what it looked like, got no error-message or anything, but I can't open it, Nothing happens when I click on the file Any ideas? (secure mobi-format)

11-09-2009, 04:23 PM	#508
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,907 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I'm no expert, but what happens when you click on a non-drm mobi ?