How does ePUB DRM work?

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by CyberSmoke53

Baen.com's webscriptions ebook store sells SciFi titles without DRM in multiple formats that work on many devices. Once you buy the book you can redown load the book in different formats. Its one of the few places I've purchased ebooks that I have been able to "upgrade" former purchases to new formats as I've purchased new reading devices. Many popular SciFi author's current books and some backlist books are available. More are always being added.

The beauty of Baen is that they sell the "book," not the format or the file.

[Wolf3]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

The name and CC# and put through a one-way hash function (i.e. some of the information is lost — the hash is shorter than the input). There's NO way to get back to the name and CC# from the information in a B&N DRMed ebook.

Removing the DRM requires having the name and CC# already.

Glad you answered that because you explained it better than I probably would have been able to!

Yeah, the name and credit card number aren't actually stored in the file. It's like when people think we can look up passwords for them, and we can't because we don't have them...but of course that's semi-complex to explain why, but anyway that's how competent encryption is done.

And speaking of which I still need to buy an eInk Nook...haven't had a chance the past few weeks *sigh*.

[delphin]

Originally Posted by CyberSmoke53

Baen.com's webscriptions ebook store sells SciFi titles without DRM in multiple formats that work on many devices. Once you buy the book you can redown load the book in different formats. Its one of the few places I've purchased ebooks that I have been able to "upgrade" former purchases to new formats as I've purchased new reading devices. Many popular SciFi author's current books and some backlist books are available. More are always being added.

+1 for Baen books

They not only sell lots of nice mainstream SF titles without DRM, but also offer a nice free library.

[Wolf3]

Oh cool, I need to remember Baen and try to buy from them!

[ATDrake]

If you're planning to buy from Baen, you might want to see if you can get a gift Webscription first.

One of the nice things about them is that when you buy yourself one of their monthly new release discount bundles, they allow you to gift a free copy to someone who hasn't yet signed up at their site, and then that person can then gift another free copy when they claim their own, and so forth down the line. It's a great way for them to spread their works to potential new customers.

Every so often, someone buying a new Webscription month will post in the Deals forum to see if they can create one of these gift-publicity new customer chains, and the current one is in this thread, if you'd like to give it a try.

[Janette55]

Wolf3,

Have you picked out a device yet? I have the Sony900 and I really enjoy it. Can't say I love it yet as I haven't used it a lot, but I can tell in time I will be madly in love with it.

It has the touch screen and although I can use a stylus or even my finger (I have used my fingernail) I also have used the buttons that are at the bottom.

The only problem that I see is that if the writing is down low at the bottom when you use a finger or get the stylus to close, it thinks you are wanting to us the dictionary. But that isn't hard to take care of, just touch the x and it goes away. There is some glare on the screen, but if you have enough lighting and f need by you can change the angle, it isn't a problem.

I have the Calibre and have learned how to deal with the DRM. This is for my own personal use, as I feel that when I buy a book it is mine, and no one has the right to tell me how I am to manage it. I don't plan on passing it on to anyone else so I don't feel that what I am doing is wrong. It is the grey area, where I was reading on a site that stated that as long as it is for personal use it is allowed.

It's the same when you buy a CD you want to put it on your computer but have the originial to use again if need be.

Anyhow, what device you decide on, I am sure you will enjoy it. I focused on what I wanted to do with a reader, the functions and then bought the one that fit the closest. Which is the Sony 900.

[Poppaea]

@Jeanette

The newer Sony models (x50) don't have a glare problem anymore, their screens are matte.

As for the deDRMing, this is not only a matter of a grey zone or of your personal integrety but is in most countries illegal.

[delphin]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

@Jeanette

The newer Sony models (x50) don't have a glare problem anymore, their screens are matte.

As for the deDRMing, this is not only a matter of a grey zone or of your personal integrety but is in most countries illegal.

Keep in mind there is NO SUCH THING as cracking DRM.

Nearly all DRM systems are now based on AES, an extremely strong cryptographic algorithm, and until some enterprising hacker figures out the back door that the NSA almost certainly left in that cypher, DRM systems can never be 'cracked'.

What the current I-heart-cabbages scripts do is use your legally obtained key to decrypt your legally obtained ebook content, so you can view it more flexibly.

I don't see how simply decrypting DRM using a legally obtained Key incidental to viewing content that was also legally obtained can be construed as a crime.

Remember ADE also 'decrypts' DRM protected ebooks, using the same key, and the same cypher decrypting process, EVERY TIME YOU OPEN THEM.

All the I-heart-cabbages scripts did was change this to a one-time decryption that simplifies matters for users.

No one is breaking any cyphers to view something purchased by someone else, they are just making use of the material they already can legally view in a more flexible fashion.

Here in the U.S. there is a specific exemption legalizing the removal of DRM where necessary to allow content to be more accessible to those who require this (where someone wants text-to-speech or needs larger fonts, for example.)

I think that this is a HUGE DISTINCTION that should be pointed out.

The I-heart-cabbages scripts DO NOT CRACK DRM, they just allow users a different way to decrypt and view their legally obtained material, using their legally obtained key.

I agree though that it's nice that the Sony generally works well with Adobe DRM, so users don't have to resort to these other measures under most circumstances.

[Marseille]

Originally Posted by delphin

Keep in mind there is NO SUCH THING as cracking DRM.

Nearly all DRM systems are now based on AES, an extremely strong cryptographic algorithm, and until some enterprising hacker figures out the back door that the NSA almost certainly left in that cypher, DRM systems can never be 'cracked'.

What the current I-heart-cabbages scripts do is use your legally obtained key to decrypt your legally obtained ebook content, so you can view it more flexibly.

I don't see how simply decrypting DRM using a legally obtained Key incidental to viewing content that was also legally obtained can be construed as a crime.

The law uses the term "circumvention". Extracting the content so that you can use it without going through the encryption at later times most definitely circumvents the scheme. To the extent your "I don't see how" was directed at the morality of pretending to sell someone something when really it's only a rental, I'm with ya.

[delphin]

Originally Posted by David Marseilles

The law uses the term "circumvention". Extracting the content so that you can use it without going through the encryption at later times most definitely circumvents the scheme. To the extent your "I don't see how" was directed at the morality of pretending to sell someone something when really it's only a rental, I'm with ya.

"Circumvention" in this context is somewhat ambiguous. In practical terms, if you are just viewing licensed content on a different device, or attempting to make other reasonable 'fair use' of the copyrighted material that was sold to you, it would be extremely difficult to argue that you had 'circumvented' the DRM in a way that was meaningful in a legal sense.

In the U.S. at least, the whole status of 'rights on first sale' in regard to ebooks is still up in the air.

Amazon asserts that their customers are only 'licensing a copy' of the work in some kind of nebulous 'lifetime lease', but their commercials boldly advertise 'buy it once, read it everywhere' which clearly implies an outright purchase conveying full ownership rights equivalent to a standard book.

I would LOVE to see a class action by Kindle owners demanding the right to re-sell their Kindle books on Amazon's open marketplace, or alternatly forcing Amazon to issue a FULL REFUND of their purchase, allowing them to return the titles.

You can resell a paper book, why not an electronic book?

[Poppaea]

delphin,

do you really think it is ok. to tell someone who lives in a different country than you do that it is perfectly fine to deDRM. I am no lawyer, even if I were I would not pretend I know all laws in all countries. The OP does quite clearly not live in the USA thus it is no smart move to tell him to DRM is not illegal. I doubt, Jeanette or you does know in which country the OP lives and if it is legal there or not.

[delphin]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

delphin,

do you really think it is ok. to tell someone who lives in a different country than you do that it is perfectly fine to deDRM. I am no lawyer, even if I were I would not pretend I know all laws in all countries. The OP does quite clearly not live in the USA thus it is no smart move to tell him to DRM is not illegal. I doubt, Jeanette or you does know in which country the OP lives and if it is legal there or not.

I tried to make it clear that my comments where related to U.S.

I agree 100% that the situation outside the U.S. is very different depending on where you live.

Truth is - It's not so great here in the U.S. either when things like this can happen.

In medieval times, it was the common practice to dole out EXTREMELY BRUTAL punishments to the serfs, in order protect the wealth and privileges enjoyed by the ruling aristocracy, and I guess the folks with money and influence still get to call the shots.

If the stinking RIAA had it's way, they would bring back the iron maiden, breaking on the wheel, drawing and quartering, burning at the steak, and the rack.

After all, it's a small price to pay as long as a few rich jerks in Publishing and the Recording industry can make higher profits right?

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by delphin

If the stinking RIAA had it's way, they would bring back the iron maiden, breaking on the wheel, draw and quartering, burning at the steak, and the rack.

Lately been to a BDSM-Club?

All the equipment mentioned and lots of money in this, too.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by delphin

"Circumvention" in this context is somewhat ambiguous. In practical terms, if you are just viewing licensed content on a different device, or attempting to make other reasonable 'fair use' of the copyrighted material that was sold to you, it would be extremely difficult to argue that you had 'circumvented' the DRM in a way that was meaningful in a legal sense.

Circumventing the DRM is removing/disabling/exploiting it to allow you to do something that the DRM would otherwise prevent. If you buy a book from Amazon, which has DRM allowing it to only be read by Amazon devices and apps, and you remove the DRM to allow you to read it with a different bit of hardware, then you have circumvented the DRM.

[delphin]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Circumventing the DRM is removing/disabling/exploiting it to allow you to do something that the DRM would otherwise prevent. If you buy a book from Amazon, which has DRM allowing it to only be read by Amazon devices and apps, and you remove the DRM to allow you to read it with a different bit of hardware, then you have circumvented the DRM.

Last time I looked Amazon was still advertising 'Buy it once, read it Everywhere.'

If through some oversight, 'Everywhere' doesn't extend to accommodation of other reading devices by other manufactures like Sony, and if the consumer is simply trying to help Amazon to correct this deficiency, then how can that be a crime?