Sony DRM: e-books can be read on up to 6 different devices

[TaKir]

Question
What are your Digital Rights Management (DRM) Business Rules?

Answer
We will offer titles on a pay-to-own basis - similar to the way a user expects to purchase and own other digital media today. The user will have the option to purchase this content and read it on up to 6 different activated devices (PCs or Readers).

http://connect.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

[Alexander Turcic]

Good find!

[rlauzon]

Originally Posted by TaKir

We will offer titles on a pay-to-own basis - similar to the way a user expects to purchase and own other digital media today. The user will have the option to purchase this content and read it on up to 6 different activated devices

I find it interesting that Pro-DRM companies like to use the term "own" to describe the relationship between the product and the person who pays money for it.

I own my car, so I can drive it anywhere, let anyone use it or sell it to someone else.
I own many books, so I can read them anywhere, let people borrow them or sell them to someone else.

But I cannot do those things with DRMed media. Therefore I do not own them. I lease them from the content controller.

So Sony's blurb should read:
"We will offer titles on a lease basis - similar to the way a user expects to purchase and own other digital media today. We will permit the user who paid us money to lease this content and read it on up to 6 different activated devices. We reserve the right to change this contract at any time without notification or compensation to the user."

[jerrywojo]

Originally Posted by TaKir

Question
What are your Digital Rights Management (DRM) Business Rules?

Answer
We will offer titles on a pay-to-own basis - similar to the way a user expects to purchase and own other digital media today. The user will have the option to purchase this content and read it on up to 6 different activated devices (PCs or Readers).

http://connect.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

1st post here....

The word "activated" is vague. A book on six devices simultaneously or a book than can be read on six different type's of devices (?). Will my devices need to be authorized? I'll go read the faq....

Actually I think Sony is gearing its faq answers and policies toward a mainstream customer than a techie. Techies see right through the DRM charade and Sony knows this,(maybe).

Industry watchers know the flim-flam game of DRM but ask Joe Average what DRM is and you'll get a blank stare. This is what Sony and other DRM advocates are counting on...the blank stare. But than again does Joe Average know what a e-book is?