learning : DRM, Adobe, Nook

[ps56k]

I've just recently started reading various threads over on the B&N Nook forum, along with participating in our local branch library usage of the Overdrive system and ebooks. I have several confusing Q&A's about DRM....

My impression of DRM, from friends with Kindle and reading various forums, is that each device, or desktop software like Adobe Digital Editions, has an electronic serial number or Physical ID (PID) that is used to encrypt or restrict the ebook to be downloaded. Therefore, that ebook will only open and work with that specific software desktop or specific reader device...

On the Nook forum, it was mentioned that the Nook supports epub & pdf. But my question was does it support epub & pdf that are DRM'd - the answer was yes... BUT they also said that the Nook does not support library ebooks from Overdrive.

This is my point of confusion....
What is the difference in what they are supporting ?
Are there different types of DRM, with Adobe DRM vs "something else" ?

I specifically went to my virtual library and checked out and downloaded an epub format & a pdf format - just to have and comapre/test.
Both open within Adobe Digital Editions, but I don't have any Reader device to copy them over just to see how they work/fail.

Trying to open the PDF/DRM with normal Adobe Reader results in an error message indicated DRM is active and to open with ADE...

In my mind, this is how things would work on any device without explicit DRM support via a PID and local software to encrypt the ebook with that device's PID.... which brings me back to the Nook - and trying to interpret what they will support from the external world (not purchased via B&N) and why the Overdrive library books may, or may not, have a "different" DRM ?

[pdurrant]

This has been answered in another thread. Here's the link:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...821#post639821

Jim Lester is Senior Programmer - Digital Publishing at Adobe Systems

Originally Posted by ps56k

I've just recently started reading various threads over on the B&N Nook forum, along with participating in our local branch library usage of the Overdrive system and ebooks. I have several confusing Q&A's about DRM....

My impression of DRM, from friends with Kindle and reading various forums, is that each device, or desktop software like Adobe Digital Editions, has an electronic serial number or Physical ID (PID) that is used to encrypt or restrict the ebook to be downloaded. Therefore, that ebook will only open and work with that specific software desktop or specific reader device...

On the Nook forum, it was mentioned that the Nook supports epub & pdf. But my question was does it support epub & pdf that are DRM'd - the answer was yes... BUT they also said that the Nook does not support library ebooks from Overdrive.

This is my point of confusion....
What is the difference in what they are supporting ?
Are there different types of DRM, with Adobe DRM vs "something else" ?

I specifically went to my virtual library and checked out and downloaded an epub format & a pdf format - just to have and comapre/test.
Both open within Adobe Digital Editions, but I don't have any Reader device to copy them over just to see how they work/fail.

Trying to open the PDF/DRM with normal Adobe Reader results in an error message indicated DRM is active and to open with ADE...

In my mind, this is how things would work on any device without explicit DRM support via a PID and local software to encrypt the ebook with that device's PID.... which brings me back to the Nook - and trying to interpret what they will support from the external world (not purchased via B&N) and why the Overdrive library books may, or may not, have a "different" DRM ?

[wallcraft]

Adobe's DRM isn't quite the same as the "PID" approach used by MobiPocket, but the effect is similar. With Adobe, you register a device to your AdobeID (up to six devices at a time, one must be a Windows PC or a Mac) and then any standard ebook downloaded with that AdobeID will work.

The Nook fully supports "sideloading" standard Adobe DRMed ePubs and PDFs. In other words, you copy these to the Nook using USB, rather than wireless. This includes Adobe lending library ebooks. At least, we assume so - it won't be certain until someone actually gets this to work on a Nook.

This is the way all current EInk readers get access to Adobe ebooks, because none has wireless. Three devices with wireless and ADE are coming (the Nook, the Sony Daily Edition and the iRex DR800SG) but none will be able to download wirelessly from a lending library - they will all be sideloading such ebooks. You download the ebooks from the library using desktop ADE (Windows or Mac, both free). If your EInk device has been registered to your AdobeID, then these same ebook files will work on the Reader and you just need to copy them over. Desktop ADE can copy them for you, or you do this yourself via the USB filesystem (which works like a USB memory stick).

[Peter Sorotokin]

Originally Posted by ps56k

My impression of DRM, from friends with Kindle and reading various forums, is that each device, or desktop software like Adobe Digital Editions, has an electronic serial number or Physical ID (PID) that is used to encrypt or restrict the ebook to be downloaded. Therefore, that ebook will only open and work with that specific software desktop or specific reader device...

Well, Adobe DRM is a bit more flexible. Each user is assigned a key and that key is locked to a device "serial number" (this what happens during activation). All the books that are downloaded by that user are locked to the user's key (so locking to a device is indirect). This way books can be copied between computers/devices without need for reencoding. Also, books can be backed up and restored.

On the Nook forum, it was mentioned that the Nook supports epub & pdf. But my question was does it support epub & pdf that are DRM'd - the answer was yes... BUT they also said that the Nook does not support library ebooks from Overdrive.

Can you provide a pointer? Library books are slightly more complex than purchased books in terms of DRM (mostly because they are returnable), but all devices that support Adobe DRM should be able to support libabry books as well.

This is my point of confusion....
What is the difference in what they are supporting ?
Are there different types of DRM, with Adobe DRM vs "something else" ?

Nook is going to suppot a different flavor of Adobe DRM where books are locked to a password (which for BN is a credit card number - just like it works for eReader). This way there are no technological restrictions on the number of the devices where you can read it. But this also means that Nook books will not initially be readable on older devices that support just the existing Adobe DRM flavor. (Adobe will make this new DRM flavor available to all device manufacturers shortly - but it will take time to propagate). On the other hand, books that are locked using the existing Adobe DRM flavor will work on Nook as is.

[Darqref]

Originally Posted by Peter Sorotokin

Nook is going to suppot a different flavor of Adobe DRM where books are locked to a password (which for BN is a credit card number - just like it works for eReader). This way there are no technological restrictions on the number of the devices where you can read it. But this also means that Nook books will not initially be readable on older devices that support just the existing Adobe DRM flavor. (Adobe will make this new DRM flavor available to all device manufacturers shortly - but it will take time to propagate). On the other hand, books that are locked using the existing Adobe DRM flavor will work on Nook as is.

Will ADE be required to buy/download/otherwise process an epub book purchased from BN (with their credit card number password?) In other words, can we buy and use from BN without having to activate ADE?

[Peter Sorotokin]

Originally Posted by Darqref

Will ADE be required to buy/download/otherwise process an epub book purchased from BN (with their credit card number password?) In other words, can we buy and use from BN without having to activate ADE?

No, you won't need ADE. In fact, initially, at least, ADE won't be able to read BN files. Down the road ADE will be able to read them and it may be one of the choices for the purchase process.