Re: ebook security

On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 1:46 AM, Stuart Bray <stuartbray-/[email protected]> wrote:

>
>
> What would you suggest for ebook security?
>
Forget it. There is no security that isn't already broken or won't be
withing a few weeks, at best. There is no such thing as a "secure" e-book,
DRM included or not. Worse...

Everything you do hacks someone off and makes readers less likely to
purchase your book. Things DRM does to hack people off or make the book less
useful?

1. Depending on the DRM, users cannot use the purchased book on his/her
reader of choice. The file may be tied to the machine it was downloaded on
and unable, for instance, to be used on the handheld reader the reader
prefers.

2. Advantages of e-books are stripped away, depending on DRM. Those
advantages may include: having the program read the book aloud (popular with
vision impaired readers), backups of the files in case of catastrophic loss
of computer or handheld reader, and others.

3. Since DRM doesn't work, the only people it inconveniences are the honest
ones. Why are we treating the honest readers like thieves and setting up an
adversarial relationship? Those readers who have this mindset will avoid
DRMd books, which cuts our audience.

4. According to Fictionwise back in 2004 (and reiterated by several other
resellers since then), DRM causes 10 times the customer service calls
unsecured e-books do. Each reader who has a problem with secured files are
10 times less likely to purchase secured copies again. Anything that makes
e-books harder to use is likely to turn readers away.

5. Increased price. Why are we paying more for something that doesn't work?
Why are readers paying more to be treated like thieves and have less
advantages to the books?

Your choice, but there's a reason many of the music sites have stopped using
DRM, and there's a reason NY conglomerates are now attempting to follow the
indie model of no DRM on e-books.

Brenna
-- 
http://www.brennalyons.com http://www.myspace.com/brennalyons
"I found the world Ms. Lyons created to be realistic. Both main characters
had humanistic characteristics but also the genetic makeup of their Xxanian
ancestors as well. I blushed more than once, that’s for sure. CLOSE ENOUGH
TO HUMAN was an exceptional read." Reviewed by Natasha Smith for Romance
Junkies 4.5 Ribbons


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