Comments on: With Rumors of Amazon Selling DRM Free Music, Will Books Be Far Behind?

By: ian W

ian W — Sun, 18 May 2008 00:07:50 +0000

Jim Baen’s webscription.net sells DRM-free content. Of course it is largely scifi – but it is seriously DRM-free in a variety of formats. And they have a free library at http://www.baen.com/library/ just to whet your appetite…

Resistance is NOT futile!

By: Dear Author.Com | I’m Exhausted and Need Your Help

Dear Author.Com | I’m Exhausted and Need Your Help — Sun, 06 May 2007 10:01:45 +0000

[...] be blogging about ebooks and ebook technology. I feel like there isn’t anything new to say. DRM is bad. New York needs to do a better job getting their books digitized. There is no perfect ebook [...]

By: Genene

Genene — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:10:45 +0000

Excellent piece! I hope that publishers get the message sooner rather than later!

Unfortunately all of the major publishers and producers of content use some sort of DRM. They have a huge vested interest in doing so, which means that it may be a slow process. Look how long it has taken the music industry.

Readers should know that a number of smaller publishers who have very fine material do not use DRM.

Finally, as a publisher and a eBook distributor we made the decision to stay away from DRM not only because consumer’s hate it and because it is not really all that secure but because it makes no sense to pay Adobe 3-5% of your profits for the illusion of protection.

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:03:29 +0000

Thank you for this article. I was thinking of buying an ebook reader, as all my ebooks are on my pc, and was completely unaware of the issues you highlighted. Thanks for saving me time and probably money as well.

By: TeddyPig

TeddyPig — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:57:58 +0000

Oh, I had a request!

Since we are on this subject I have unwittingly over time bought a few books with that nasty pdf key locking feature.
Not the normal “no print” deal, but where you actually have to go to Adobe to register your reader so you can read the book you just PAID FOR and do all that crap.

Can you list out those publishers that do that junk and do a “hall of shame” listing.

Those freaks need to stop that crap. It sucks and it is intrusive and I REFUSE TO PAY FOR A HEADACHE.

Just because you can use that shit does not mean you should.

If that happens I have decided the only way I can fight it is to in no way review the book or even acknowledge it.

I am all for making sure these wonderful companies get no more of my business.

Not to mention, I would love a chance to list the publishers that do this and say STAY AWAY! to anyone thinking about buying from them.

By: TeddyPig

TeddyPig — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:45:57 +0000

iPhone does 8 gigs of pdfs
iPhone does 8 gigs of pdfs

OSX which is on iPhone reads pdfs natively in preview.

No DRM, I repeat no DRM

By: Charlene

Charlene — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:31:35 +0000

This is interesting stuff. I know that DRM has to be an obstacle for many readers. I know how many hoops my husband and I have had to jump through to make secure ebooks and audio books work, and what a hassle it can be when you switch computers or hand-held devices. And we’re both pretty technically savvy people. For somebody like my mom, forget it. The hassle alone would mean they’d never try one. So I’d love to see the ebook experience made easier for more people but I’d hate to see that come with a higher price tag. Charging 30% more would probably lose more ebook customers than the format change would attract. It’ll be interesting to see how this works for music!

By: Rosie

Rosie — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:40:36 +0000

Jane, it would take me forever to figure this stuff out on my own and tons of reading and checking. Which is why I’ve been resistant to buy an ebook reader. Thanks for educating me in a way I can understand.