Myrddin Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 If you haven't already read on the news, a reader in Norway had her Kindle account wiped and closed without explanation or opportunity to have the decision reversed. Amazon decided she was in violation of their policy and took back what she "bought."Problem is, you don't buy ebooks, you rent them. So, she has no recourse.As mentioned in the second link, it's possible she violated policy by using a friend's UK address to get ebooks in Norway.The issue I take is the ability for Amazon (and I assume other ebooks retailers) to reach into my computer/device and take back something purchased.I haven't bought an e-reader yet, and I do plan on getting one, but this does illustrate that ebooks (and music) are like software. You buy the license to read them, not the right to own, share, or re-sell them.Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcf Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Well, this is the prime example of the evil of DRM software. If an ebook comes without DRM (and some publishers are doing this now) or if you strip it off, you can 'own' the book and prevent and provider from wiping you out.I was on the fence for a long time about e-readers because of the DRM issue and the propriatery format of individual devices (Kindle being the worst). I did buy a Nook because I simply don't have anymore space for anymore books. What I did is download the program Calibre to manage my ebooks. This program allows you to not only store books, but change their format to fit your reading program (for example, I can by a Kindle book, download and change the format so I can read it on my Nook - Calibre does this automatically based on the setting you give it). It's a great program. You can also add plugins that will automatically strip DRM from books you load into Calibre. I do this as well. It gives me an odd sort of satisfaction to strip away the DRM. I'll not post the link to the DRM plugins because it's probably agains policy here, but let me know if your interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Tyrion Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Well, this is the prime example of the evil of DRM software. If an ebook comes without DRM (and some publishers are doing this now) or if you strip it off, you can 'own' the book and prevent and provider from wiping you out.I was on the fence for a long time about e-readers because of the DRM issue and the propriatery format of individual devices (Kindle being the worst). I did buy a Nook because I simply don't have anymore space for anymore books. What I did is download the program Calibre to manage my ebooks. This program allows you to not only store books, but change their format to fit your reading program (for example, I can by a Kindle book, download and change the format so I can read it on my Nook - Calibre does this automatically based on the setting you give it). It's a great program. You can also add plugins that will automatically strip DRM from books you load into Calibre. I do this as well. It gives me an odd sort of satisfaction to strip away the DRM. I'll not post the link to the DRM plugins because it's probably agains policy here, but let me know if your interested.That program confused the hell out of me for some reaosn. Maybe I need to update it but it really has an ugly appearance that doesn't seem user-friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcf Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 That program confused the hell out of me for some reaosn. Maybe I need to update it but it really has an ugly appearance that doesn't seem user-friendly.Maybe so - I've never had any problems with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrddin Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 CalibreGreat suggestion. I've been wanting to get an ereader mostly for "disposable" books (the ones I would buy in paperback and give away), but I'd also like to get some reference material too. Calibre sounds handy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aidan Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Funny, I feel very comfortable about all of the eBooks I've purchased from any and all vendors. They're not going anywhere and I can read them on any device I own. I'm also a calibre user. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WrathOfTinyKittens Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Even with DRM you can simply save the files to your PC. So, if they wipe your device, you've still got the files, which you can then feed through Calibre or whatever. Is Calibre free? Sounds like something my GF and I need so that we can share ebooks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcf Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Is Calibre free? Sounds like something my GF and I need so that we can share ebooks.Yes, follow the link. Though they do ask for donations, they don't charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fragile Bird Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 This is cool information - thanks for the Calibre link, kcf, I'm going to download it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switchback Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Even with DRM you can simply save the files to your PC. So, if they wipe your device, you've still got the files, which you can then feed through Calibre or whatever.Is Calibre free? Sounds like something my GF and I need so that we can share ebooks.yeah, this. as far as i know no one can reach into my computer and start wiping out my books. just back up book purchases and i don't think there's a problem. as far as losing books that you've bought at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie McBride Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 yeah, this. as far as i know no one can reach into my computer and start wiping out my books. just back up book purchases and i don't think there's a problem. as far as losing books that you've bought at least.DRM it's cryptography, the anti-feature that blocks you from reading books copied from other devices could be (probably already has been) quite simply repurposed into a revocation system that blocks you from accessing old copies of "your" books after your account has been disabled.Moreover, at least last year Calibre required a working Kindle for PC installation to strip the DRM from amazon ebooks, so it's not obvious that you can still do something after your account stops working.The best thing to do is to always strip the DRM immediately, just to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcf Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Moreover, at least last year Calibre required a working Kindle for PC installation to strip the DRM from amazon ebooks, so it's not obvious that you can still do something after your account stops working.This isn't the case with the pluggin I'm using. The DRM is stripped when I load an Amazon ebook into Calibre. The pluggin I'm using is most tricky for Nook purchases - it requires my loggin email and credit card number used with the account to strip the DRM - I guessing it just has to do with the style in which the DRM is written. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Bass Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I'll triple the thanks, kcf. I use a Kindle and have been pretty happy with it, but it would be nice to back up all my e-books on to my computer in a different format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgambino Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I strip the DRM from every ebook I buy. It's much easier to do with a Nook than a Kindle in my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AncalagonTheBlack Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Calibre official forum,for help & any questions about Calibre - http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=166 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cseresz.reborn Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 We have found your account is directly related to another which has been previously closed for abuse of our policies. ... We wish you luck in locating a retailer better able to meet your needsI agree with Amazon. kcf,you should add a few torrent sites to your sig ...DRM: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly http://interactionla...od_bad_ugly.pdfYou know, it's hard for people to understand that immaterial things can be worth as much as material things.A lot of people maintain the attitude that if some one else bought it they should be allowed to share it with me. Unfortunately a lot of people seem to think they are entitled to get a lot of things, especially books/music/movies, for free. And if they can't, well, their rights and freedoms are being violated. For example, the dvd (PC etc.) market is dead in Hungary (because of pirating), so I have to buy everything from the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red snow Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I guess I'd be pretty upset if they were all taken off and I'd hope Amazon would issue a warning before deactivating my account. It does sound like they did something wrong though and while it's something they paid for, I imagine this is all stated in the "click on accept" agreement at the start.If they pulled a stunt like that, for no good reason then they'd ultimately lose out as I wouldn't buy anything from them again. Although that may be difficult if they ever run every online store.The sad thing is that I could also obtain all the books I have illegally if they ever pulled such a stunt - I'd just need to remember which books I had bought (the ones i forget were maybe never that good). If the program mentioned allows me to save my files though that would be a useful thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melonica Stormborn Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I'm willing to pay because I want to support authors (and artists for music/movies), but if I paid for it, I want to have ownership of the copy forever. Simple as that.Lending or re-selling is a different issue, though. This is something that could possibly be regulated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aimlessgun Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 It's an annoying issue. DRM stripping or just plain old piracy if you're cut off from your collection is a workaround, but I hope a better solution comes along that gets rid of the 'renting' setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cseresz.reborn Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 https://fr.twitter.com/webmink/status/260731641771745280 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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