Mobipocket announcements at IDPF conference

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by StephanieP

Oh, I didn't know that. But still, you have to admit it sounds awfully funny to not allow something to be read aloud.

Even if the program won't read it aloud, nothing is stopping the person who bought it from doing so. I fail to see how disabling that protects much of anything.

this is a side effect of what they don't allow, not the main intent. The read aloud software has to have access to the data. Providing this permission also allows a DRM hole which is what they are really trying to block.

Dale

[koland]

Originally Posted by StephanieP

...But still, you have to admit it sounds awfully funny to not allow something to be read aloud.

Even if the program won't read it aloud, nothing is stopping the person who bought it from doing so. I fail to see how disabling that protects much of anything.

The main thing it really protects from is allowing the blind to use the almost always cheaper ebook version (instead, forcing them to purchase the overpriced audiobook, instead). That may not be the "reason", but it is the effect.

One positive side effect is that it prevents parents from giving the kids the book and leaving them to have it read to them by the computer, forcing the parent to read to the child themselves (although, face it, for that type of parent it just means they leave the kid in front of the tv instead).

The read aloud function is also helpful to those who have poor reading skills or who are learning a new language (although the pronunciation can be off a bit for this use).

[slayda]

Back to the main thrust of this thread. I opened the free ebook "Three shadows" with Mobipocket Reader on my PC. It is an unDRMed graphic epub novel. I then exported it to my Cybook Gen3 (one of the readers registered with the desktop Mobipocket Reader) and it works fine on the Cybook.

[JSWolf]

In the USA, if you purchase an eBook where the DRM for it stops the read aloud feature you are legally allowed to break the DRM so read aloud works.

So MS Reader files are legal to have the DRM removed.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In the USA, if you purchase an eBook where the DRM for it stops the read aloud feature you are legally allowed to break the DRM so read aloud works.

So MS Reader files are legal to have the DRM removed.

If you have a real need for the feature. It cannot be used as an excuse.

Dale

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In the USA, if you purchase an eBook where the DRM for it stops the read aloud feature you are legally allowed to break the DRM so read aloud works.

The actual current, November 2006, exception to the DMCA is (from Wikipedia):

Literary works distributed in ebook format when all existing ebook editions of the work (including digital text editions made available by authorized entities) contain access controls that prevent the enabling either of the book’s read-aloud function or of screen readers that render the text into a specialized format. (Revised from a similar exemption approved in 2003.)

The problem is that some other ebook version might allow reading aloud, and sometimes "authorized entities" have unlocked versions that are available to those with disabilities.

However, this does narrow the number of cases where someone could be sued for format shifting a DRM-ridden ebook for their own personal use.

[koland]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The actual current, November 2006, exception to the DMCA ...:

"...contain access controls that prevent the enabling ... of screen readers that render the text into a specialized format."

so, anyone who needs a larger font on a non-backlit screen due to their eyes, would be allowed to break the DRM and transfer it to the Kindle (just as others break DRM to be able to listen)? Right?

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

If someone besides Koland suggested this, I missed it... but it seems to provide an easy way to convert any ePub files to your Kindle. That's always cool!

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by koland

so, anyone who needs a larger font on a non-backlit screen due to their eyes, would be allowed to break the DRM and transfer it to the Kindle (just as others break DRM to be able to listen)? Right?

It is my understanding that the exception is available to everyone, but its purpose is to allow access to those with disabilities.

I am not aware of anyone being sued in the US for breaking the DRM of an ebook they bought for the sole purpose of format shifting for personal use (which is an established "fair use" in the US, except for the DMCA's prohibition of DRM circumvention). This exception is very close, in practice, to saying that this is legal (given that all DRMed ebooks contain these access controls), but it obviously does not say this explicitly.

[slayda]

But it is still (apparently) illegal to publish DRM breaking SW as I understand it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by koland

so, anyone who needs a larger font on a non-backlit screen due to their eyes, would be allowed to break the DRM and transfer it to the Kindle (just as others break DRM to be able to listen)? Right?

You would have to purchase it in a format that allows reading aloud. So you'd have to get it in MS Reader format and then yes, feel free to format shift.

[DDHarriman]

PDF has also the option to read aloud.

[Robotech_Master]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever heard anything more about the thing mentioned at the start of this thread—Gorner's remarks that Mobipocket would release an iPhone client "by the end of the year"?

It's starting to get pretty close to the end of the year, and not a peep has come out of Mobipocket about such a thing.

[HarryT]

It's three months away still .

[Robotech_Master]

I've just written an article about the mysterious absence of a Mobipocket reader for the iPhone, Mac, or Linux:

http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/12...ne-mobipocket/

Enjoy.