Is it theoretically possible to remove B&N DRM?

6charlong · 01-18-2012, 07:24 PM

I have no intention of asking how to remove DRM, I don’t even want to do it, but I do need to protect my investment in eBooks. I read somewhere that you cannot remove the DRM on Nookbooks. Surely Barnes and Noble will never go out of business but I’m thinking that maybe I’d better start buying my eBooks from one of the many sources of ePub books that use the more common Adept DRM and not risk my investment by using a single-source provider.

I like B&N and love my Nooks and I don’t want to change bookstores so I’m asking if anyone knows if it’s at least theoretically possible to remove Barnes and Noble’s DRM should an emergency arise?

bfollowell · 01-18-2012, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6charlong

I have no intention of asking how to remove DRM, I don’t even want to do it, but I do need to protect my investment in eBooks. I read somewhere that you cannot remove the DRM on Nookbooks. Surely Barnes and Noble will never go out of business but I’m thinking that maybe I’d better start buying my eBooks from one of the many sources of ePub books that use the more common Adept DRM and not risk my investment by using a single-source provider.

I like B&N and love my Nooks and I don’t want to change bookstores so I’m asking if anyone knows if it’s at least theoretically possible to remove Barnes and Noble’s DRM should an emergency arise?

It isn't just theoretically possible. It is actually, factually possible. And quite easy I might add.

- Byron

6charlong · 01-18-2012, 07:52 PM

Thank you for a quick reply.

I recently tried to load a Nookbook into Adobe Digital Editions and ADE refused to accept it. I previously thought that Adobe supported both Adept and B&N DRM so it was a nasty surprise to discover I have to maintain two separate libraries (I have about 200 books I bought over the last five years for my Sony PRS and Pocket Pro readers).

I hope I never have to resort to this solution--like I said I like Barnes and Noble but this DRM problem is irritating.

JSWolf · 01-18-2012, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6charlong

Thank you for a quick reply.

I recently tried to load a Nookbook into Adobe Digital Editions and ADE refused to accept it. I previously thought that Adobe supported both Adept and B&N DRM so it was a nasty surprise to discover I have to maintain two separate libraries (I have about 200 books I bought over the last five years for my Sony PRS and Pocket Pro readers).

I hope I never have to resort to this solution--like I said I like Barnes and Noble but this DRM problem is irritating.

nookbooks are supported by the current ADE 1.8 preview edition. Go to Adobe's website to download it. It can live happily side-by-side with ADE 1.7.2.

6charlong · 01-18-2012, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

nookbooks are supported by the current ADE 1.8 preview edition. Go to Adobe's website to download it. It can live happily side-by-side with ADE 1.7.2.

Thank you Jon. That's a great tip. It works great. I don't know where Nook for Mac is putting my Nookbooks but I can download them again and load them into this ADE 1.8 from Chrome.

You solved my problem.

azazel1024 · 01-19-2012, 10:16 AM

As mentioned, it is easy to remove. It is based on Adobe eDRM to the best of my knowledge (based on, but not the same).

Do you use Calibre? It won't remove DRM on its own, but a google search will turn up how to do it.

I am in the same boat, sort of. Except for me it is primarily that I want to be able to buy ebooks from the cheapest source and get them to run on my nook (I give my business to BN if they have the same price or at least are pretty close). That and I don't want to be tied in to an ecosystem should I decide my next ereader is a kindle, or a kobo, or a (insert name or reader/ecosystem here).

So the ability to make both format (Calibre is pretty good at converting formats, AZW/Mobi to ePub and vice versa or even PDF to ePub) and DRM irrelevant is important to me.

RAH · 01-19-2012, 10:29 AM

I occasionally buy Kindle books from Amazon and then put them on my Nook. You can do it pretty easily with the easy techniques mentioned. Amazon gets their money and I get to read their book.

kennyc · 01-19-2012, 10:33 AM

Google apprentice alf

apastuszak · 02-01-2012, 10:04 PM

B&N DRM encrypts the eBook using a hash of the credit card number that was used to purchase the book. The plus with the way B&N does it, is that it never needs to check into a central server to make sure you have the right to read your book. The nook has a hash of your credit card on it and just uses that to decrypt the book (a hash, not the actual credit card number).

There is a tool that will do it. There is a 2 step process. You have to enter you credit card number into a piece of software to generate the hash, and then use that hash to decrypt the book. You have to ask yourself if you're willing to enter your credit card number into a piece of software you know nothing about.

If your curious, a Google search of the words Apprentice Alf will tell you all you need to know.

firefox · 02-05-2012, 05:08 AM

But it's all in python, so if you were so intended to, you could just read through it and see if its even making a network connection. Just text.

01-18-2012, 07:24 PM	#1
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	Is it theoretically possible to remove B&N DRM? I have no intention of asking how to remove DRM, I don’t even want to do it, but I do need to protect my investment in eBooks. I read somewhere that you cannot remove the DRM on Nookbooks. Surely Barnes and Noble will never go out of business but I’m thinking that maybe I’d better start buying my eBooks from one of the many sources of ePub books that use the more common Adept DRM and not risk my investment by using a single-source provider. I like B&N and love my Nooks and I don’t want to change bookstores so I’m asking if anyone knows if it’s at least theoretically possible to remove Barnes and Noble’s DRM should an emergency arise?

01-19-2012, 10:16 AM	#6
azazel1024 Groupie Posts: 182 Karma: 346596 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Ellicott City, MD Device: Nook simple touch, iPad 2	As mentioned, it is easy to remove. It is based on Adobe eDRM to the best of my knowledge (based on, but not the same). Do you use Calibre? It won't remove DRM on its own, but a google search will turn up how to do it. I am in the same boat, sort of. Except for me it is primarily that I want to be able to buy ebooks from the cheapest source and get them to run on my nook (I give my business to BN if they have the same price or at least are pretty close). That and I don't want to be tied in to an ecosystem should I decide my next ereader is a kindle, or a kobo, or a (insert name or reader/ecosystem here). So the ability to make both format (Calibre is pretty good at converting formats, AZW/Mobi to ePub and vice versa or even PDF to ePub) and DRM irrelevant is important to me. Last edited by azazel1024; 01-19-2012 at 10:34 AM.

02-01-2012, 10:04 PM	#9
apastuszak Evangelist Posts: 436 Karma: 125599 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bensalem, PA Device: Kindle Paperwhite, nook Glowlight Plus, Apple iPad Air 2	B&N DRM encrypts the eBook using a hash of the credit card number that was used to purchase the book. The plus with the way B&N does it, is that it never needs to check into a central server to make sure you have the right to read your book. The nook has a hash of your credit card on it and just uses that to decrypt the book (a hash, not the actual credit card number). There is a tool that will do it. There is a 2 step process. You have to enter you credit card number into a piece of software to generate the hash, and then use that hash to decrypt the book. You have to ask yourself if you're willing to enter your credit card number into a piece of software you know nothing about. If your curious, a Google search of the words Apprentice Alf will tell you all you need to know. Last edited by apastuszak; 02-01-2012 at 10:08 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
remove the DRM	appstrading	Calibre	3	07-24-2010 01:24 AM
Help to remove DRM!	suehann1	Calibre	1	02-27-2010 01:17 PM
Still not possible to remove drm from pdf?	Leoric1991	PDF	1	02-06-2010 11:25 AM
remove drm from epub	macgeek21	ePub	10	01-26-2010 01:17 PM

01-18-2012, 07:52 PM	#3
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	Thank you for a quick reply. I recently tried to load a Nookbook into Adobe Digital Editions and ADE refused to accept it. I previously thought that Adobe supported both Adept and B&N DRM so it was a nasty surprise to discover I have to maintain two separate libraries (I have about 200 books I bought over the last five years for my Sony PRS and Pocket Pro readers). I hope I never have to resort to this solution--like I said I like Barnes and Noble but this DRM problem is irritating.

01-19-2012, 10:29 AM	#7
RAH Guru Posts: 611 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Color Nook; Nook Touch	I occasionally buy Kindle books from Amazon and then put them on my Nook. You can do it pretty easily with the easy techniques mentioned. Amazon gets their money and I get to read their book.

01-19-2012, 10:33 AM	#8
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Google apprentice alf

02-05-2012, 05:08 AM	#10
firefox MR Gen Z Representative Posts: 67 Karma: 696 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Barnes & Noble NOOKclassic	But it's all in python, so if you were so intended to, you could just read through it and see if its even making a network connection. Just text.