Calibre cannot convert AZW file (locked by DRM)

[Crescendo63]

I just bought a book from Amazon, and i was going to convert it into EPUB for reading on my Kobo (after downloading it to my computer using the "Kindle for Mac" app - I don't own a Kindle e-Reader).

I've always used Calibre (with the DeDRM plugin) to convert Kindle books this way, and it has always been successful.
Until today :-(

Calibre imports the Kindle AZW file (metadata included), but it cannot read nor convert it. It says "This book is locked by DRM", etc.
- I updated DeDRM
- I updated Calibre
- I read about Amazon's new KFX format, thus I downloaded the 1.17.1 "Kindle for Mac" app and retried, but it didn't change anything (it wasn't an KFX file after all).

It looks like this particular eBook has some quirks, but I cannot imagine what they are.

Do you have any hint, idea or strategy to try?
I'm on an Apple Mac with MacOSX 10.9.

[jhowell]

Since that book still has DRM you have to ask for help at either Apprentice Alf’s blog or Apprentice Harper’s GitHub. Help with DRM removal cannot be provided on this site.

[Crescendo63]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Help with DRM removal cannot be provided on this site.

Ah, ok. Sorry about that.

Thank you for your suggestion.

[HarryT]

Please ask Calibre questions in the Calibre forum, not here.

[Crescendo63]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Please ask Calibre questions in the Calibre forum, not here.

I now know.
Since I've seen several threads here discussing Calibre and DRM, I thought it was allowed. My bad.

Anyway, I found the solution to my issue - in case anyone might be interested: Calibre must be run under the same User where the "Kindle for Mac" has imported the Kindle book. It has worked flawlessly this way.
Why some Kindle books need this, and others are happily converted regardless of Users, is beyond me

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Crescendo63

I now know.
Since I've seen several threads here discussing Calibre and DRM, I thought it was allowed. My bad.

Anyway, I found the solution to my issue - in case anyone might be interested: Calibre must be run under the same User where the "Kindle for Mac" has imported the Kindle book. It has worked flawlessly this way.
Why some Kindle books need this, and others are happily converted regardless of Users, is beyond me

That's because not all Kindle books have DRM. Many don't. But yes, you need the same user account for those with DRM.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

That's because not all Kindle books have DRM. Many don't. But yes, you need the same user account for those with DRM.

Are you sure that it is not an OS file permissions issue combined with a misleading error message?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Crescendo63

Since I've seen several threads here discussing Calibre and DRM, I thought it was allowed. My bad.

You can mention Apprentice Alf and DeDRM, even link to the site now, you just can't discuss how it's done or set up here. (Kind of a fine line.)

(I'm pretty sure these are still the current guidelines on this subject.)

[Pizza_Cant_Read]

Originally Posted by rcentros

You can mention Apprentice Alf and DeDRM, even link to the site now, you just can't discuss how it's done or set up here. (Kind of a fine line.)

(I'm pretty sure these are still the current guidelines on this subject.)

Anyone know when and why rules were changed to allow the mention of Apprentice Alf and DeDRM? It helps MobileRead maintain an open and inviting atmosphere and I think it will help in competition for mind space with other communities which share overlapping interests.

Personally, I feel whiplash when I see someone chastised and the more open and liberal we can be with our rules the better.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Pizza_Cant_Read

Personally, I feel whiplash when I see someone chastised and the more open and liberal we can be with our rules the better.

You have to walk that line between free discussion and having MobileRead beset by lawyers.

That happened years back to one forum I used to lurk in when some of the discussions went overboard in discussing circumventing software that was locked by such means as a physical dongle (or "how to Unlock HardLock"), needing a CD in the drive with a sideline in damaged CDs so a copy without the damage wouldn't work, etc. Evidently some of the software companies were not happy with such discussions and invoked the DMCA. Talk about taking a sledgehammer to swat a mosquito -- who knew that a judge could decide copying a program from your hard drive to RAM constituted making a second unauthorized copy.

Looking at the MobileRead FAQs check section 8 of the Posting Guidelines"

While DRM removal may be discussed in the abstract, the following are not allowed at MobileRead:

discussing DRM removal to pirate content;
providing detailed how-to instructions;
uploading of DRM-removal tools;
direct download links to DRM-removal tools.

Further information on our policy on copyright, uploads and DRM can be found here.

[Pizza_Cant_Read]

Originally Posted by DNSB

You have to walk that line between free discussion and having MobileRead beset by lawyers.

That happened years back to one forum I used to lurk in when some of the discussions went overboard in discussing circumventing software that was locked by such means as a physical dongle (or "how to Unlock HardLock"), needing a CD in the drive with a sideline in damaged CDs so a copy without the damage wouldn't work, etc. Evidently some of the software companies were not happy with such discussions and invoked the DMCA. Talk about taking a sledgehammer to swat a mosquito -- who knew that a judge could decide copying a program from your hard drive to RAM constituted making a second unauthorized copy.

Looking at the MobileRead FAQs check section 8 of the Posting Guidelines"

While DRM removal may be discussed in the abstract, the following are not allowed at MobileRead:

discussing DRM removal to pirate content;
providing detailed how-to instructions;
uploading of DRM-removal tools;
direct download links to DRM-removal tools.

Further information on our policy on copyright, uploads and DRM can be found here.

I have barely been here a year but it wasn't too long after I joined when I saw someone censored for mentioning the name of a DRM removal tool. Nice to see that Github which has more to lose feels safe enough hosting such tools. They are a strong player in the software world and can serve as a canary in the coal mine..

I understand playing a safe game though, just drew my attention :-)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rcentros

You can mention Apprentice Alf and DeDRM, even link to the site now, you just can't discuss how it's done or set up here. (Kind of a fine line.)

(I'm pretty sure these are still the current guidelines on this subject.)

That's correct. No discussion of the "how to" of DRM removal is permitted.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Pizza_Cant_Read

I have barely been here a year but it wasn't too long after I joined when I saw someone censored for mentioning the name of a DRM removal tool. Nice to see that Github which has more to lose feels safe enough hosting such tools. They are a strong player in the software world and can serve as a canary in the coal mine..

I understand playing a safe game though, just drew my attention :-)

It comes down to concepts such as safe harbor, if a site is moderated and where the site is hosted. Wordpress and github are not moderated so they have less legal risk. In general, I think, that as long as we are talking about backing up or format shifting content we have purchased, there is a lot more leeway given than if we run up the Jolly Roger.

Ultimately, it's a Golden Rule issue, he who has the gold, makes the rules, or more specifically, the site owner makes the rules and as guest on his site, it's polite to follow those rules.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

the site owner makes the rules and as guest on his site, it's polite to follow those rules.

I understand your drift, but I think I must say that it's not just polite, it's mandatory.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

I understand your drift, but I think I must say that it's not just polite, it's mandatory.

My momma and grandmother taught me that politeness is manditory.