“Sony Developing New DRM to Make Used eBooks Viable”

[Phogg]

I don't see used ebooks as a goal terribly worth striving for.

With the end of the gatekeeper power print publishing had there is a huge world of affordable contemporary literature. The cost savings drove the used book business and that isn't anywhere close to being the relevant factor it was.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Phogg

I don't see used ebooks as a goal terribly worth striving for.

With the end of the gatekeeper power print publishing had there is a huge world of affordable contemporary literature. The cost savings drove the used book business and that isn't anywhere close to being the relevant factor it was.

I disagree. Good, popular books still (rightfully, I think) command a price high enough that many folks would consider it too high for a read-once purchase.
I think the prospect of being able to recoup some of the cost will stimulate more book buying and more reading, both of which are goals worth striving for because their value to the...ah...cultural/economic...um...gestalt.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ApK

I disagree. Good, popular books still (rightfully, I think) command a price high enough that many folks would consider it too high for a read-once purchase.

For people who take that view there are libraries, and book rental programmes.

[BearMountainBooks]

I think there is great interest from CONSUMERS for used books--simply for a lower price. But the only incentive for a publisher to offer "used" books is to do it before someone else does. OF course if they do that, there is nothing stopping others from offering a "used" product and undercutting the prices.

It makes no sense and the only way it will happen is if a law in some country allows for it. Otherwise it's simply a case of sometimes offering a discount because there is no such thing as a used e-book.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by HarryT

For people who take that view there are libraries, and book rental programmes.

There are indeed, and this would be yet another option, which I predict, if done well, could be good thing. For example, it could offer more economic stimulus than libraries, and more freedom and flexibility than rentals, thereby bringing in even more people.

ApK

[eschwartz]

I am skeptical how many people would actually buy and sell their ebooks.

However, this does look extremely interesting from another angle -- perhaps now we can finally gift our old books to a friend.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I am skeptical how many people would actually buy and sell their ebooks.

However, this does look extremely interesting from another angle -- perhaps now we can finally gift our old books to a friend.

Trouble is, it really does need to be combined with strong DRM, because otherwise people will just sell their books and keep a copy for themselves anyway.

[Barty]

When discussing ebook pricing, people always price zero resell value as a reason ebooks should be cheaper than pbooks. Now someone is trying to come up with a solution and everyone hates it?

That said, I'm pretty sure this is just a scheme for raising ebook price (and make money for Sony of course).

They should throw the consumers a bone. If I buy one of these DRMed books, I must truly own it. Under no circumstance will it be removed or my access to it denied except by my own stupid fault.

[stormcloude]

Originally Posted by darryl

Yet more DRM. Wonderful!

More seriously, this is trying to apply print book principles to EBooks. An ebook is a computer file, and it is essentially meaningless to talk about it being used.

Essentially, we are dealing with rights here. What is basically being proposed is the ability to "sell" an ebook in competition with retailers, publishers etc. But unlike paper books, the "used" ebook is identical in quality to the "original" ebook. And, unlike a print book, can go on changing hands ad infinitum without ever deteriorating to a point that it cannot be on-soid. Why on earth would anyone buy a "new" ebook in preference to a "used" one at a discount.

Maybe it will be like the libraries and their limits on lending-- it can only be resold X number of times then it expires. I can also see the publishers liking it if they get a cut every time the ebook changes hands.

[the.Mtn.Man]

"Sony developing new DRM-"

No thanks.

[speakingtohe]

I never gave a used paper book as a specific occasion gift.
Often I have given a used pbook to someone who requested it.
No one has asked me for a used ebook, and if they did I would not jump through hoops to give it to them.
My main motivation for buying as opposed to borrowing or getting freebies is to support authors I have been reading for many years or new authors I think are excellent.

I don't care about bequeathing my books.

I don't care about buying or selling used ebooks. And I find the thought impractical at best. say 5000 people buy a new ebook and 1000 read it and put it on the market in a day. These fast readers with an entrepreneurial bent are likely to be the only ones who recoup some of the cost. The next day another 1000 buy, and another 1000 (give or take) are trying to sell. Not too long before the used books are going for less than the cost of DRM transfer and additional costs such as percentage to authors/publishers.

It is a nice thought but do most of us have the drive to be at the forefront of the market and is it worth the effort? Not me I know.

And might it not devalue books in general?

Would those who consider ownership and reselling rights important feel fulfilled if buying for 2 cents and selling for 1 cent?
Could be, I just want to read

[susan_cassidy]

It seems odd that Sony would get re-involved in ebooks after stopping making ereaders and closing their bookstore.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ApK

I disagree. Good, popular books still (rightfully, I think) command a price high enough that many folks would consider it too high for a read-once purchase.
I think the prospect of being able to recoup some of the cost will stimulate more book buying and more reading, both of which are goals worth striving for because their value to the...ah...cultural/economic...um...gestalt.

I agree. I think the ability to sell a used eBook (like we used to sell used paperbacks) is a good thing. I don't know if it will actually happen, but I like the fact that someone is trying to make it happen.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

It seems odd that Sony would get re-involved in ebooks after stopping making ereaders and closing their bookstore.

It is kind of odd, but I think they'll be more involved in the eBook business like Adobe is involved in it. It's a completely different business.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Trouble is, it really does need to be combined with strong DRM, because otherwise people will just sell their books and keep a copy for themselves anyway.

As it stands now, they can strip the DRM and sell the book. If they're thieves, they're going to be thieves. Two different issues.