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by mseebach 4345 days ago
>1984

Isn't the fact that we're still discussing a single screw up that was immediately rectified from 5 years ago evidence that Amazon is actually going about this DRM business in a pretty sensible way? Also, Amazons complete lack of interest in "fixing" the very easy DRM removal process seems to provide further evidence to the same end.

Sure, it'd be better if there was no DRM, but there's the perfect world and then there's the world we actually live in.
1 comments
riffraff 4345 days ago
FWIW, I just bought a book (sequel to "a fire upon the deep" by vernon vinge) on kindle yesterday and it came with a "this book has no DRM at the request of the publisher" disclaimer.

So maybe we should complain about publishers rather than amazon at this point?

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mseebach 4345 days ago
We can complain all we want, but I struggle to see how we can place meaningful pressure on publishers.

I wanted to say that it's like iTunes and the switch to non-DRM, but I think the dynamic is different with Amazon as there isn't any meaningful competition on the e-reader device market as there was (and is) on the MP3 player market, where DRM was a major pain and thus a driver for DRM-free.

Short of Amazon pressuring publishers to drop DRM (which could well happen, but there's not a lot of business upside to it, although do downside either), I guess it will take a viable competitor to the Kindle that Amazon can't or won't provide an app for for DRM to get pressured out by end user market force.

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jessaustin 4345 days ago
...I struggle to see how we can place meaningful pressure on publishers.

I've never "bought" an e-book with DRM. (With DRM it isn't really a purchase, but rather a lease of indeterminate term.) I don't find it a struggle.

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