Microsoft's eBook Apocalypse Shows the Dark Side of DRM

Post by olliej » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 5:30 PM UTC

inlined wrote: post #35

olliej wrote: post #28

It’s not the dark side, it’s the designed in primary side. The ability to view drm’d content is almost just an optional side benefit. I still think legislation should require any product sold with a buy/purchase button should be required to continue functioning even if the “product” is shut down.

That’s what’s so infuriating about DRM. Lawyers may argue that we clicked OK to some fine print somewhere, but the product is advertised as something you buy, not something you lease. That’s why I feel like the right of first sale should be legally protected.

Post by xondono » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 5:32 PM UTC

inlined wrote: post #43

deogeo wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But did they use the word 'buy' in their online store? Did they list the item as 'book title' instead of 'book title license'? I'm sure there's a "licensed, not sold" line buried somewhere in the EULA, but why would that take precedence over the prominently-displayed "buy"? Is the "buy" a lie? If so, how is a consumer supposed to know which statements are lies and which are not? For all they know, the EULA could be t…

I keep hearing complaints in the US that EU regulations strangle companies, but as a consumer I’m wildly envious. When I vaped, I tried to get a new disposable part in the EU. I had to upgrade my whole mod because the parts on the market in the US were illegal in the EU because they leaked. The US is sold products that force you to buy more “juice” and make messes. And in the EU, the juice flavors must each pass test…

Post by dbcurtis » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 5:35 PM UTC

Mikeb85 wrote: post #46

And this is why I only 'buy' eBooks if they're dirt cheap (<$5). Even then if I really enjoy them I'll buy a physical copy.

Post by awakeasleep » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 5:37 PM UTC

pmlnr wrote: post #56

I'm genuinely curious - what is the "light" side of DRM?

Post by cheerlessbog » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 5:44 PM UTC

inlined wrote: post #47

nyreed wrote: post #19

I mean, honestly this was clear from the moment online stores with DRM'd media started appearing. If it's not stored on your own device in a DRM free format, it can disappear at any time. It's less 'the dark side of DRM', and more simply that DRM requires actively maintained infrastructure. When the business case isn't there to pay for that anymore (or the company goes bust), then what else can one expect?

Engineering has the concept of “fail safe”. It literally means that the failure mode is a safe mode. If the dns of the DRM server can no longer be reached, a fail safe would allow the book to continue to be read.