Am I mad...... - Page 2

DixieGal · 10-01-2008, 03:27 PM

Sometimes it is better to say things in your head than put them on the internet.

dickon25 · 10-01-2008, 03:58 PM

Sometimes it is better to say things in your head than put them on the internet.

Hmm....my point exactly!
Seriously though, pbook libraries have got all the latest books and already have the authors' royalties sorted out. I wouldn't want to borrow books in a way which cut the author's income, but can't get my head round why, if the system already works well for paper, it cannot be easily tranferred to ebooks.

nekokami · 10-01-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seabound

I am assuming that these books in the Fictionwise library are secure mobipocket. Is it possible to remove the DRM of these books in the "usual" way?

(I'm not sure if I'm allowed to ask that question here.)

I'm willing to answer this question in the abstract. I've seen some evidence that it can be done. I think it's ethically questionable, because this eliminates the automatic expiration of access to the book, and relies on the reader to remember to delete the book at the end of the loan period. (Even assuming they don't share it with anyone else or intentionally keep it beyond the loan period.)

Robotech_Master · 10-01-2008, 04:18 PM

DRM just plain doesn't work. It doesn't do what it's "supposed" to do, because it can be all too easily circumvented. There's no way to keep an encryption scheme from being broken where the recipient is also the attacker, and that's all there is to it.

Concerning e-libraries' DRM, as far as I know it's just bog-standard Mobipocket encryption, of the same kind that locks your book to your up-to-four devices. It's just that they throw in an "expires in X days" restriction as well. Really, it's a rather elegant idea and if it weren't that DRM is totally worthless I'd actually think it was pretty clever.

But anyway, given that the encryption is standard, if you know that a crack works for an "ordinary" Mobi book that you've purchased, in theory there is no reason it shouldn't work for a library book either.

You just have to decide whether your personal code of ethics allows you to crack it (given that even if there is a law against it in your locale as there is in the USA, it's not likely you'll ever be caught unless you go around blabbing about it on public forums), and what said code allows you to do with it.

DaleDe · 10-01-2008, 05:31 PM

And if too many people start cracking and advertising the fact then mobipocket will likely get removed from the libraries and no longer available. Adobe has not been cracked and we'll be stuck with only that.

Seabound · 10-01-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

I'm willing to answer this question in the abstract. I've seen some evidence that it can be done. I think it's ethically questionable, because this eliminates the automatic expiration of access to the book, and relies on the reader to remember to delete the book at the end of the loan period. (Even assuming they don't share it with anyone else or intentionally keep it beyond the loan period.)

It was unclear to me if the expiration mechanism was separate from the DRM, since I know nothing of these things. I think a separate scheme might have been smarter.

CleverClothe · 10-02-2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seabound

It was unclear to me if the expiration mechanism was separate from the DRM, since I know nothing of these things. I think a separate scheme might have been smarter.

The DRM is what allows the time limit. Without the DRM, you can't impose reading limits (like time limit).

10-01-2008, 04:18 PM	#19
Robotech_Master Fanatic Posts: 514 Karma: 2954711 Join Date: May 2006	DRM just plain doesn't work. It doesn't do what it's "supposed" to do, because it can be all too easily circumvented. There's no way to keep an encryption scheme from being broken where the recipient is also the attacker, and that's all there is to it. Concerning e-libraries' DRM, as far as I know it's just bog-standard Mobipocket encryption, of the same kind that locks your book to your up-to-four devices. It's just that they throw in an "expires in X days" restriction as well. Really, it's a rather elegant idea and if it weren't that DRM is totally worthless I'd actually think it was pretty clever. But anyway, given that the encryption is standard, if you know that a crack works for an "ordinary" Mobi book that you've purchased, in theory there is no reason it shouldn't work for a library book either. You just have to decide whether your personal code of ethics allows you to crack it (given that even if there is a law against it in your locale as there is in the USA, it's not likely you'll ever be caught unless you go around blabbing about it on public forums), and what said code allows you to do with it. Last edited by Robotech_Master; 10-01-2008 at 04:26 PM. Reason: expanding the original discussion

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Mad at B&N	steph_g	General Discussions	32	10-23-2010 11:18 AM
Justification is driving me mad...!	Loccy	Calibre	0	01-16-2010 12:57 PM
So MAD at myself!	Stacey34	Sony Reader	32	03-09-2009 10:48 AM
Mad google?	astra	Lounge	21	02-01-2009 07:25 AM

10-01-2008, 03:27 PM	#16
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Sometimes it is better to say things in your head than put them on the internet.

10-01-2008, 03:58 PM	#17
dickon25 Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 818 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505. Pocketbook Inkpad 840	Sometimes it is better to say things in your head than put them on the internet. Hmm....my point exactly! Seriously though, pbook libraries have got all the latest books and already have the authors' royalties sorted out. I wouldn't want to borrow books in a way which cut the author's income, but can't get my head round why, if the system already works well for paper, it cannot be easily tranferred to ebooks.

10-01-2008, 05:31 PM	#20
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	And if too many people start cracking and advertising the fact then mobipocket will likely get removed from the libraries and no longer available. Adobe has not been cracked and we'll be stuck with only that.