On why DRM ebooks are good!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by djgreedo

Out of curiosity, how many people here share books and/or read the same books as friends and family? I don't really share tastes with friends and family when it comes to books. Music, TV, and films to some extent, but not books.

I share some books with my husband. But, even with DRM, that is allowed.

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by no.guru

I have a couple of comments about file sharing in general.

A fear of technology seems to be relevant here. Sharing printed books with friends and family isn't regarded as piracy. Borrowing a printed book from someone - stealing the content - is perfectly fine.

We're told that pulling the same book from a torrent and reading it in your reader is different. The objection will be raised that torrents involve much higher numbers, but it's not relevant. You can let 500 or 5000+ friends read your printed book and no one will threaten to sue, not even the publishers.

If piracy is wrong then so are traditional libraries.

The difference is that a digital file can be copied infinitely, and each copy is perfect. With a library, only one or two copies are available at any one time. You can only lend a physical book to one person at a time. With a pirated file, 1000s of people can get a copy they can keep, and that copy is exactly the same as the original. It's still obvious (to us at least) that this type of piracy can still lead to future sales. I can understand why the publishers are scared, but they are shooting themselves in the foot trying to stop piracy.

It's been demonstrated that it is impossible to stop piracy. They should be using these technologies to their advantage. But they are too focused on their profit margins and the 'old way'. Fools.

[no.guru]

Originally Posted by djgreedo

It's been demonstrated that it is impossible to stop piracy. They should be using these technologies to their advantage. But they are too focused on their profit margins and the 'old way'. Fools.

Agreed, and well-said.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by djgreedo

The difference is that a digital file can be copied infinitely, and each copy is perfect. With a library, only one or two copies are available at any one time. You can only lend a physical book to one person at a time. With a pirated file, 1000s of people can get a copy they can keep, and that copy is exactly the same as the original. It's still obvious (to us at least) that this type of piracy can still lead to future sales. I can understand why the publishers are scared, but they are shooting themselves in the foot trying to stop piracy.

It's been demonstrated that it is impossible to stop piracy. They should be using these technologies to their advantage. But they are too focused on their profit margins and the 'old way'. Fools.

Well said, and couldn't agree more

[Gideon]

Ultimately, for me, it comes to this...

Wake up one day and the DRM authorization service has been turned off and you can no longer use what you paid for. I've had that happen with absolutely no recourse and no options.

I don't care about DRM when it comes to sharing.... I"m willing to deal with the fact I can't loan someone a copy, but damn if it doesn't piss me off if *I* can't use it how I want. If I buy a movie I want to be able to watch it on whatever I want, whenever I want. Not "as long as it's on some Apple product we approve."