Comments on: Amazon trying to make DRM more tolerable—rather than ending it? But wait: Anti-MobileRead DMCA threat shows a meaner side

By: Eric Welch

Eric Welch — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:30:43 +0000

Before we get all giddy about Sony, let’s not forget the rootkit incident. That was about the worst invasion of privacy and misuse of technology I can think of. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Sony_BMG_CD_copy_protection_scandal for details. I will never, ever, buy anything made by Sony because of it.

By: John Hagewood

John Hagewood — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:14:32 +0000

I think it’s curious that Amazon bought mobipocket and re-used their DRM scheme, rather than inventing their own (like I believe Sony did). Did they think it wouldn’t get hacked in various ways? Did they do any research to see if it was ALREADY cracked?

I mean, it’s obvious they weren’t going for the compatibility angle with Mobi, so why not just completely close off your book to one format? (like Sony did before supporting EPUB).

I guess the answer is “money”. Cheaper to buy Mobi, get a “free” DRM scheme to start with AND the ability to perhaps squash and intimidate potential competitors to boot (for instnace when they forced some of the other mobi providers to disallow the Kindle PID – Fictionwise for one).

What I find REALLY confusing is how many “off brand” eInk readers support DRM’ed Mobipocket! Aren’t they licensing this FROM Amazon. Too weird. Someone’s gonna have to explain this one to me…

By: Joseph Gray

Joseph Gray — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:47:12 +0000

Just one more (of many) reasons not to do business with Amazon. I’m sensing a pattern – some day I’ll be required to buy the air that I breathe from Amazon.

By: LuYu

LuYu — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:53:30 +0000

This DMCA thing is absolutely disgusting. I am now offically an Amazon enemy, and I hope they go out of business with their other Free Speech hating, publishing brethren. I am all for authors making money, but we have to figure out a system where publishers are excluded.

Copyright was intended to give exclusive rights to profits — not to restrict access to publications or silence people who help others expand the use of their hardware.

The RIAA, MPAA, and book publishing industry are all criminals, and they deserve jail time, not dollars. Buying from Amazon or Apple should be viewed as a criminal act as well.

“Friends don’t let friends support cartels.”

By: Pilotbob

Pilotbob — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:10:53 +0000

You can have unlimited devices registered to your account but the ebooks only contain a license for 6 devices. At least, that is the word from Amazon customer support.

By: HeavyG

HeavyG — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:50:01 +0000

Since you can register more than one Kindle to one account I’m not surprised you can register more than one iPhone/Touch to one account.

Don’t know if there is a fixed limit on the number of devices per account.

By: No one of consequence

No one of consequence — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:21:43 +0000

Trying to make DRM more tolerable? Gilding the cage, perhaps.

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41929