Re: Re: A new device. Be still, my heart

I cannot disagree with the contention that ebooks are less permanent  
than print, because that you can't back them up or transfer them to a  
different device, and that the cause of this inability to preserve the  
files is DRM.

I can, and do, vehemently disagree that the root cause of that is  
publisher greed and arrogant disregard for the reader.

First, the best DRM would be a societal expectation that you not  
duplicate the copies you buy. ONE copy per purchase (barring backups  
and device switching, when one goes to the great trash heap in the  
sky, of course).

If publishers (and authors, who are the true owners of content, in  
most cases) could be sure of that, there'd be no DRM. But they know  
that right now, most people are either rationalizing their  
copysharing, or completely ignorant of its consequences. We all know  
that most DRM won't stop the dedicated pirates, but for them, we have  
cops. It's the masses of onesies and twosies that DRM is usually aimed  
at, and in the aggregate, it is their efforts that are the most likely  
to bankrupt an industry. (cf. the imminent demise of music companies  
and the drastic drop in income for most professional musicians).


In short: the public is a very large partner in this effort to make  
life more difficult for all of us. If you want to get rid of DRM,  
start by (verbally) smacking copysharers upside the head when you see  
or hear them.

Each movement starts with individuals doing the right thing and  
encouraging others to do so, too.




Marion Gropen
Gropen Associates, Inc.
By-The-Question Consulting,  Tools for Publishers, & Classes
www.GropenAssoc.com
Her blog: www.GropenAssoc.com/blog





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