DeDRM Software

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by LaurieGator

I am curious what percentage of folks who use deDRM software just use it for reasons like they are against what DRM stands for or they want to only use the books on their personal e-readers that use different formatting rather than pirating or torrent sites.

I suspect nearly all people who use deDRM software use it for those kind of reasons. To get free books or post free books it's a lot easier just to download torrents directly - there's no need to mess with DRM at all.

http://xkcd.com/488/

The only people who need to use deDRM software are people who've actually bought ebooks.

I got sick of the DRM on ebooks in late 2003. Between 1st November 2003 and 12th June 2008 (inclusive) I bought a grand total of three DRMed ebooks - one in 2004 and two in 2005. I did buy books, but only from Baen or Multiformat ones from Fictionwise.


It was in June 2008 I first obtained deDRM software. In June 2008 I bought 36 DRMed ebooks. And 16 in July 2008. And 51 in August 2008. And 12 in September 2008. And 48 in October 2088. And....

You know — I've just realised that I have the Dark Reverser to blame for my rather large TBR pile!

[Caltsar]

I personally use the software to allow me to buy the rare kindle title that isn't also available on the nook, but it has the added benefit of also allowing me to keep my eBook collection - no matter where it came from - in one place, backed up, and accessible by any device I may choose to use in the future.

If you're pirating books, the DRM has already been removed for you, and if eBook pirating is anything like music or movie pirating, the vast majority of eBooks come from just a few central sources.

[OtterBooks]

and if eBook pirating is anything like music or movie pirating, the vast majority of eBooks come from just a few central sources.

I actually did not know that. Interesting. I figured it was more of a mass collective thing.

[Caltsar]

I actually did not know that. Interesting. I figured it was more of a mass collective thing.

While I can't seem to find the source anymore (I believe it was Wired magazine), I read an article some time back detailing the culture of pirating music/movies/games/etc. It's ever-shifting, but there are a few "elite" groups up top that get the releases, remove the DRM and otherwise prepare them for release to usenet and private bittorrent sites. Then everything trickles down through various networks and sites until it finally reaches the pirate bay and other such public sites. Many files/torrents you download will have some strange name or abbreviation at the end, and if I remember correctly, this is the group that initially released the file.

Of course, my information is based off an article that I read quite some time ago and may be inaccurate due to being out of date or simply misremembered.

[SeaBookGuy]

I understand Overdrive has a "user agreement"; I get that. However, unlike paper books, where the next person can't read it until you give your copy back, ebooks are guaranteed available after the loan period (if not sooner). One dedrm copy, personal use only (NO "distribution" of any sort), permanently deleted upon completion ... why not read it at your leisure?

[jkeene]

Originally Posted by Caltsar

While I can't seem to find the source anymore (I believe it was Wired magazine), I read an article some time back detailing the culture of pirating music/movies/games/etc. It's ever-shifting, but there are a few "elite" groups up top that get the releases, remove the DRM and otherwise prepare them for release to usenet and private bittorrent sites. Then everything trickles down through various networks and sites until it finally reaches the pirate bay and other such public sites. Many files/torrents you download will have some strange name or abbreviation at the end, and if I remember correctly, this is the group that initially released the file.

Of course, my information is based off an article that I read quite some time ago and may be inaccurate due to being out of date or simply misremembered.

I think you have it about right. Was it this article?

[screwballl]

Seems Mr Alf is retiring:

Link deleted by moderator

So get it now before it disappears.

Moderator Notice
It's against MR's rules to post links to sites that host DRM-removal tools. Sorry.

[Caltsar]

Originally Posted by jkeene

I think you have it about right. Was it this article?

That wasn't the article I was thinking of (who knows, I may have read something else in another source), but it's definitely the same thing! Your google-fu is better than my own

[JeremyR]

Originally Posted by Caltsar

If you're pirating books, the DRM has already been removed for you, and if eBook pirating is anything like music or movie pirating, the vast majority of eBooks come from just a few central sources.

While that might be true of internet piracy, there is also "casual" piracy (which DRM is really aimed at stopping). Basically buying a book and giving it to all your friends.

[Alfy]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I suspect nearly all people who use deDRM software use it for those kind of reasons. To get free books or post free books it's a lot easier just to download torrents directly - there's no need to mess with DRM at all.

http://xkcd.com/488/

The only people who need to use deDRM software are people who've actually bought ebooks.

Errr... Yes, but how may books now available for illegal download are deDrem'ed purchases? Now that deDrm'ing has become an easy thing, I guess more and more. That is certainly not be why I use it, but deDrm'ing a newly published purchase and making it available is a way to improve your ratio. Granted, illegal ebooks were already available before, but you can see how publishers might spin this.

[Toxaris]

I use it on all the books I buy. Just because I want to be able to correct formatting, if possible, or still being able to read it after I change my hardware or using a different format. However, all the books I buy will either be read by me or my wife. No distributing at all for those books.

[Caltsar]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

While that might be true of internet piracy, there is also "casual" piracy (which DRM is really aimed at stopping). Basically buying a book and giving it to all your friends.

Giving the users options to lend books through the DRM scheme can go a long way in stopping that casual piracy. Implementing piracy the "right" way can also do the same. Extending the features of a book, and building in "bonuses" such as keeping track of pages across devices or automatic edition updates for using the DRM can encourage people to use the legitimate copy. Making the copy free of DRM might then turn it "static" so it's great for being backed up, but it's "frozen" at the point where you removed the DRM. You still have the same copy that you bought and you could put it on other devices at that point, but only the DRMed copy would have those extras that you get from the store knowing you own the copy of the eBook.

Of course Apple also removed the DRM from their music store completely, and I have yet to hear anything about sales decreasing or casual piracy being a huge problem. Having iTunes manage the music and making it less obvious to the average user where the actual files are stored probably has a lot to do with it in the same way that the kindle and nook files can be downloaded, but it isn't immediately obvious for most users why they would download the files in the first place when they're delivered to their iPhones, nooks, kindles, etc.

[CrayWolf]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

While that might be true of internet piracy, there is also "casual" piracy (which DRM is really aimed at stopping). Basically buying a book and giving it to all your friends.

DRM is like the lock on your front door. It will keep honest people and opportunistic thieves out, but if someone really wants what you have, they'll just smash a window.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by CrayWolf

DRM is like the lock on your front door. It will keep honest people and opportunistic thieves out, but if someone really wants what you have, they'll just smash a window.

Very true and well-stated.

BTW, what's going on in your ticker? Did the train run over that guy?

[SeaBookGuy]

Looks more like she's swimming along the tracks to me!