Re: Re: Copy protection and Smashwords

On Sat, 11 Aug 2012 11:14:25 -0400, you wrote:

>I don't use DRM, save where I have no choice in the matter, but I find your
>attitude rather presumptious. No offense, but most authors I know DON'T have
>the attitude you describe at all. 

Since you are the first author I have seen who has made a statement
like this it I rather doubt that the majority of authors agree with
you.  

I don't treat you like
>a thief. At the same time, I don't particularly like sweeping statements
>about those evil, nasty authors either. The truth of the matter is, most
>authors have NO CONTROL over whether their ebooks will be DRMd or not. The
>publishers do. Many newer authors don't even understand what DRM will do to
>their sales and the perceptions of readers. 

The questions was asked, and answered.  I do not purchase DRM books. I
bought 183 books this year, which is more than I can read.  Without
DRM, from a large and growing list of publishers and ebook stores that
don't do DRM.  I don't even look at DRM titles or Amazon anymore, I
don't need to, and I don't have the time.

If the author wants to DRM a book, have at it.  But I won't be
browsing or buying.  And if they don't know and can't be bothered to
figure out what DRM is, it is not my problem.  And if answering a
question gets a smug lecture from on high, they can live in ignorance.
I'll just spend my money elsewhere.  I'm not having a problem finding
books or authors.

>
>For what it's worth, I've said for years that breaking DRM to legally access
>what you've paid for should not be criminalized, and the 5th circuit court
>has recently made a ruling that matches it, in relation to software not
>ebooks, but it does give creedence to the belief that this is the correct
>way to do business. 
>
> 
>
>Cracking DRM does not make you a pirate. Taking that cracked book and
>loading it on a mass piracy site or illegally selling copies of it? THAT
>would make you a pirate. From my chair, you're not breaking laws to just
>access what you've legally purchased. 

My books are mine, and they stay on my phone or my hard drive.  I
don't distribute them.  

From the hand wringing and screaming that I get from authors finding
out that I "broke the DRM" you'd think that I was murdering their
firstborn child.

I can now break the DRM on almost any book out there, it's a trivial
matter.  I don't purchase DRM books because I don't want to encourage
the use of DRM.  And the attitude pisses me off.

Barbara

Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "....what a ride!"


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