Sage - WEIRD message

Uncle Robin · 11-05-2021, 07:16 AM

I've spent several hours today reading a sideloaded epub. It's a DE-DRMd epub of a book I bought from Kobo. I was last reading it on my Sage about 80 minutes ago. Because I was nearly finished it, I decided to open another book. Another sideloaded epub transferred via Calibre yesterday. I got the following message:

The same epub opens just fine on my Libra, no such error. Then I tried a few others of the books I loaded on to my Sage yesterday, all books that are on my Libra. ALL gave the same message. So I went to open the book I had been reading and, the same message appeared!

What is going on?!

davidfor · 11-05-2021, 08:56 AM

I see that occasionally. Sometimes it's just one or two books and removing and adding them again fixes it. Unfortunately, sometimes it is a sign of a corrupted database.

DNSB · 11-05-2021, 01:15 PM

I have noticed that on several occasions. The closest I come to be able to reproduce the issue seems to be when I resend a book from calibre after editing it. A power cycle (power button or reboot from NickelMenu) seems to fix the issue until the next time.

And yes, once it is triggered, it seems to be there for any epubs until I reboot my Sage. Nothing like going back to a book that you have read 63% of and being told DRM prevents you from reading it.

Uncle Robin · 11-05-2021, 03:24 PM

Thank you both for your replies. I did a factory reset and that seems to have fixed it, at the cost of reloading the device, of course

Lynx-lynx · 11-05-2021, 04:21 PM

Is it possible that kobo is trying to implement ways to block cleaned up ebooks from being opened up on their devices?

It seems to be affecting side loaded ebooks, from what you are all saying, so there seems to be code looking for something, perhaps drm status, and then the ebook can't be opened back up.

Is this block also occurring with side loaded obok cleaned ebooks, or just ade cleaned epubs?

Sirtel · 11-05-2021, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

Is it possible that kobo is trying to implement ways to block cleaned up ebooks from being opened up on their devices?

It seems to be affecting side loaded ebooks, from what you are all saying, so there seems to be code looking for something, perhaps drm status, and then the ebook can't be opened back up.

Hardly, as there are plenty of DRM-free books in Kobo's own store.

Lynx-lynx · 11-05-2021, 04:53 PM

yes, and they may have a kobo check mark of some description

DNSB · 11-05-2021, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

Is it possible that kobo is trying to implement ways to block cleaned up ebooks from being opened up on their devices?

It seems to be affecting side loaded ebooks, from what you are all saying, so there seems to be code looking for something, perhaps drm status, and then the ebook can't be opened back up.

Is this block also occurring with side loaded obok cleaned ebooks, or just ade cleaned epubs?

I highly doubt that. I see it with Baen and Tor ebooks, neither of which are DRMmed.

Not to mention that so far, the best way I can trigger the issue is to resend a book from calibre. In which case, even a book I am currently reading will pop up the DRM message. That will happen with books that had DRM removed, books that never had DRM and books that I created myself.

Sirtel · 11-05-2021, 05:01 PM

I don't think it's some actual DRM check. Even Amazon doesn't do that, and they're more draconian about DRM than Kobo.

Uncle Robin · 11-05-2021, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

Is it possible that kobo is trying to implement ways to block cleaned up ebooks from being opened up on their devices?

That very thought did occur to me at first, but when it then happened to the de-DRMd book I'd already spent several hours reading on the Sage without issue, I realised it must have been a bug of some sort. Had it been a "piracy" check, the sideloaded book I had been reading would have triggered the message from the first attempt to read it, not after nearly finishing it. Which the other replies confirmed

MGlitch · 11-05-2021, 07:25 PM

I'd also point out that a book without DRM at all triggering a message specifying Adobe DRM not allowing it would indicate a bug, since Kobo doesn't use Adobes DRM for their own books, only to allow you to load books from ADE.

DNSB · 11-05-2021, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGlitch

I'd also point out that a book without DRM at all triggering a message specifying Adobe DRM not allowing it would indicate a bug, since Kobo doesn't use Adobes DRM for their own books, only to allow you to load books from ADE.

Actually, Adobe's ADEPT DRM is part of the RMSDK package which is used to read epub files. Kobo's own DRM is used with their WebKit based renderer used for .kepub.epub books. I did a test with sideloading some kepubs converted with kepubify and when epubs were showing the Adobe DRM popup, I could open a kepub without issue.

So I'm voting for a bug in how books are being passed to RMSDK which is triggering the DRM popup.

Uncle Robin · 11-05-2021, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

A power cycle (power button or reboot from NickelMenu) seems to fix the issue until the next time.

Thanks for this tip - it happened again today, and this time I just "tried turning it off and on again", and all was well.

MGlitch · 11-06-2021, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Actually, Adobe's ADEPT DRM is part of the RMSDK package which is used to read epub files. Kobo's own DRM is used with their WebKit based renderer used for .kepub.epub books. I did a test with sideloading some kepubs converted with kepubify and when epubs were showing the Adobe DRM popup, I could open a kepub without issue.

So I'm voting for a bug in how books are being passed to RMSDK which is triggering the DRM popup.

Yes, by their own, I'd meant kepubs, though I can see why that might not have been clear. That sideloaded kepubs aren't affected would also indicate it's a bug not a failsafe to prevent supposed piracy, else why make it so easy to circumvent (aside from the turning off/on fix also being easy).

11-05-2021, 07:16 AM	#1
Uncle Robin Diligent dilettante Posts: 3,661 Karma: 52758936 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: in my mind Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour	Sage - WEIRD message I've spent several hours today reading a sideloaded epub. It's a DE-DRMd epub of a book I bought from Kobo. I was last reading it on my Sage about 80 minutes ago. Because I was nearly finished it, I decided to open another book. Another sideloaded epub transferred via Calibre yesterday. I got the following message: The same epub opens just fine on my Libra, no such error. Then I tried a few others of the books I loaded on to my Sage yesterday, all books that are on my Libra. ALL gave the same message. So I went to open the book I had been reading and, the same message appeared! What is going on?! Attached Thumbnails

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11-05-2021, 08:56 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	I see that occasionally. Sometimes it's just one or two books and removing and adding them again fixes it. Unfortunately, sometimes it is a sign of a corrupted database.

11-05-2021, 01:15 PM	#3
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,062 Karma: 168961900 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I have noticed that on several occasions. The closest I come to be able to reproduce the issue seems to be when I resend a book from calibre after editing it. A power cycle (power button or reboot from NickelMenu) seems to fix the issue until the next time. And yes, once it is triggered, it seems to be there for any epubs until I reboot my Sage. Nothing like going back to a book that you have read 63% of and being told DRM prevents you from reading it.

11-05-2021, 03:24 PM	#4
Uncle Robin Diligent dilettante Posts: 3,661 Karma: 52758936 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: in my mind Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour	Thank you both for your replies. I did a factory reset and that seems to have fixed it, at the cost of reloading the device, of course

11-05-2021, 04:21 PM	#5
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,121 Karma: 93720365 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2, Libra Colour	Is it possible that kobo is trying to implement ways to block cleaned up ebooks from being opened up on their devices? It seems to be affecting side loaded ebooks, from what you are all saying, so there seems to be code looking for something, perhaps drm status, and then the ebook can't be opened back up. Is this block also occurring with side loaded obok cleaned ebooks, or just ade cleaned epubs?

11-05-2021, 04:53 PM	#7
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,121 Karma: 93720365 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2, Libra Colour	yes, and they may have a kobo check mark of some description

11-05-2021, 05:01 PM	#9
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,452 Karma: 239219453 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I don't think it's some actual DRM check. Even Amazon doesn't do that, and they're more draconian about DRM than Kobo.

11-05-2021, 07:25 PM	#11
MGlitch Wizard Posts: 2,855 Karma: 22003124 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2	I'd also point out that a book without DRM at all triggering a message specifying Adobe DRM not allowing it would indicate a bug, since Kobo doesn't use Adobes DRM for their own books, only to allow you to load books from ADE.

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