protecting epub files from copying & printing

[cyberbaffled]

Anyone know how to protect an epub file from copying and printing without having to purchase an Adobe content protection server?

[ATimson]

Originally Posted by cyberbaffled

Anyone know how to protect an epub file from copying and printing without having to purchase an Adobe content protection server?

Such protection requires a DRM'd ePub. So if you don't want to purchase Adobe's solution, your only other option is to develop your own encryption scheme and reader application.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by cyberbaffled

Anyone know how to protect an epub file from copying and printing without having to purchase an Adobe content protection server?

Not inexpensively. And furthermore you really should figure that loading enough crap onto the e-book to prevent a few people from copying and/or printing is probably going to so reduce e-book sales as to eliminate profits. A better strategy is to set a fair price (around $5-$7 for a novel, $12-$16 for basic non-ficiton, and between $25-$25 for technical non-fiction) and promote the heck out of it. Sure, you won't get rich from each copy sold, but you'll sell more copies without DRM, and the word-of-mouth when people discover you're not actively trying to make it hard to read your work will help.

Derek

[cyberbaffled]

"encryption scheme" Sounds like graduate level work!

[cyberbaffled]

It's as much the potential mutation of content as the potential loss of sales that troubles me.

[arvinder]

i want to secure my epub. What is the best solution for this. kindly reply who has done this by any software or applied any secutiry mechanism.

[Toxaris]

There are only a few methods available. It all depends on what you are willing to pay and readability of the book. Basically there are two encryption schemes. One by Adobe and one by B&N. Almost or all e-readers can read the Adobe encrypted files, but only the nook (afaik) can read the B&N encrypted files. Both cost a substantial amount of money to buy the encryption software. Perhaps Apple has a third encryption for the iPad, but I do not know nor care.

Any other encryption/security measure will lead to incompatible epub files, because the reader software does not know how to handle it.

Both encryption schemes have been cracked though. Basically I would not buy a book which has DRM or is encrypted which is not removable. A lot of people are that way. There is also no lock on a paperback or hardback when I buy it. It is silly and will only harm those who want to buy and will not stop pirating.

[arvinder]

When below mentioned combined efforts are going to be released?

The announcement that Adobe and Barnes & Noble are collaborating to further standardize eBook technology is an advancement for open, interoperable eBooks. As part of this collaboration, Barnes & Noble announced it is adopting the open EPUB eBook Format, PDF and Adobe Content Server as the basis of its eBook distribution—including on nook, the Barnes & Noble eBook reader.

[Toxaris]

Basically this will not change matters. As soon as a new scheme will be developed, the readers must change their software. If Adobe and B&N create something new, you can bet your life that Sony and others will not be supporting that. B&N will not let them, because it means they can sell less nooks or the successor.

Actually, the scheme B&N is using now is already a collaboration between Adobe and B&N.

All this will do, is divide the market more with device-only books. I personally feel that there is to many of that already. I hate it when I cannot buy books anymore at Amazon because they only support their Kindle.

Open non-DRM books are the way. If one is interested in the book, they will buy it. If someone wants to pirate it, DRM is not going to stop them. Not as long as there are scanners and darknet. In short, DRM costs more money than it generates.

I will not buy an e-book from which I cannot strip DRM. If I buy it, I want to be able to use it as I like and read it when and where I would like. DRM is silly.

[neilmarr]

The simple answer when it comes to the imposition of restrictions, Cyberbaffled, is ... don't. Very best. Neil

[theducks]

Originally Posted by cyberbaffled

It's as much the potential mutation of content< snip> that troubles me.

Post the MD5 sum on your web site to validate Original content.
Or post the individual CRC32 values (inside the EPUB).


You mihgt want to read the Intro to Baen Free Library

[ATimson]

Originally Posted by theducks

Post the MD5 sum on your web site to validate Original content.

That only works so long as "helpful" readers like iTunes & Calibre don't muck with the ePub file.

[troymc]

Originally Posted by theducks

Post the MD5 sum on your web site to validate Original content.
Or post the individual CRC32 values (inside the EPUB).

I really hope the new ePUB spec includes something like this. Preferably embedded digital signatures for individual files.


Troy

[Toxaris]

I hope not... It happens way to often I have to edit the epub to remove margins and alike. Would be really bad if that is not possible anymore...

[ATimson]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

I hope not... It happens way to often I have to edit the epub to remove margins and alike. Would be really bad if that is not possible anymore...

Adding the option to do digital signatures wouldn't remove your ability to do that (unless you were using a really crappy reader program that only allowed "verified" ePubs - but it'd be "broken" anyways since you couldn't read any that you made on your own and didn't sign). It would, however, prevent you from passing off the modified file as the original.