Hackers crack Amazon's Kindle DRM....

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by David Derrico

Does it actually mean that there's no DRM at all and it will play on any device at all, registered or no?

Yes. These are DRM-free MOBI ebooks. So if they come with an .azw extension all you need do is rename them to .mobi or .prc and they will work in any MOBI reader (and Calibre can format shift them, e.g. to ePub). You can also copy the ebook files between Kindles, which does not work with DRMed ebooks.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by calvin-c

I don't think I understand. If they didn't have any control over the DRM then I don't see how they would have been able to convert the format.

Ah, maybe this will help clear it up:

They went ahead and sold a product which did it. They didn't try and control the results companies licensing the product put it to. The technology was found to be legal, since it didn't technically circumvent restrictions, just aided interoperability.

[calvin-c]

Ah, I think I see where I misunderstood. I thought Real was using the product & selling the songs in different formats.

[David Derrico]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Yes. These are DRM-free MOBI ebooks. So if they come with an .azw extension all you need do is rename them to .mobi or .prc and they will work in any MOBI reader (and Calibre can format shift them, e.g. to ePub). You can also copy the ebook files between Kindles, which does not work with DRMed ebooks.

Good to know - thanks!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by David Derrico

Does it actually mean that there's no DRM at all and it will play on any device at all, registered or no?

Yes, that's it exactly.

[barnacle]

One point to recall is that the rules, in spite of the Berne Convention, differ between country and territory - and that US rules apply no further than the US borders. In particular, the DCMA does not apply to me as a UK citizen.
Also, there is the rather odd circumstance with such as encryption software, which even in simple forms is considered to be a military weapon. As such, a US citizen (as I understand it) can download encryption developed and published outside the US, as can I, but I cannot download that same software from a US citizen. DRM is essentially encryption software, so there are certainly cases where something illegal in the US could be legal in other territories.

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by barnacle

Also, there is the rather odd circumstance with such as encryption software, which even in simple forms is considered to be a military weapon. As such, a US citizen (as I understand it) can download encryption developed and published outside the US, as can I, but I cannot download that same software from a US citizen. DRM is essentially encryption software, so there are certainly cases where something illegal in the US could be legal in other territories.

And vice versa. The situation vis-a-vis encryption software changed in the US during the 90's. Although it's still listed as weapons tech & therefore requires an export license, the regs prohibiting the granting of export licenses to anything stronger than 40-bit encryption (IIRC) have been repealed. Now, all encryption software is *eligible* for an export license. Doesn't mean all of it has an export license, and if it doesn't then it's still illegal to sell/give it to 'aliens'. But that's more of a failure on the part of whoever's selling it now. If they jump thru the proper paperwork hoops they can (probably) get the license. If they really come up with something new (like an 'encryption' method that prevents others from even detecting the signal) then I'd guess that all bets are off.