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Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

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Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#211

Post by BeetleB »

Ciantic wrote: post #48
syntaxing wrote: post #19

Just get a kobo instead. The price difference between with ads and a new kobo is minimal. Not worth the Amazon headache with a locked down device.

I have Kobo, but their decision to enable secure boot in newer models, and consequently pushing out FOSS choices as operating systems makes me think I won't get another Kobo. Yes the Nickel menu works still with secure boot enabled devices. I like to think that devices I buy might have different use-case in future, and secure-boot enabled devices seriously harm that.

Will this affect my ability to install KOReader?

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#212

Post by m01 »

kmeisthax wrote: post #151
tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #7

How many books are actually available DRM-free? This reads a bit like "Amazon will provide free land, construct a paddock and provide feed for life if you order a unicorn, except unicorns don't exist".

All of Cory Doctorow's books are DRM-free. Actually, he insisted on it as a contractual rider with his publisher, so he isn't available on any platform that doesn't have a DRM-free option. I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon re-allowing downloads for DRM-free is specifically because Doctorow's publisher is angry at them. In practice, the biggest store that doesn't have a DRM-free option is Audible... which has a near-m…

Ironically on Kobo you can buy Enshittification with DRM:

"Download options: EPUB 3 (Adobe DRM)": https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/enshittification-4

Kobo does sell some other books DRM-free, so perhaps this is some sort of error. You can buy it directly from the publisher without Adobe DRM, there it has a watermark instead.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#214

Post by caseysoftware »

I've "collected" 500+ Kindle titles over the years and stopped buying from them completely when they blocked downloads earlier this year. When they enable these downloads, I'm going to export the ones I didn't get last time and continue NOT buying from them.

Fool me once..

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#215

Post by codazoda »

crtasm wrote: post #109
codazoda wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a self-published author. This is the default setting for new books uploaded without DRM. It's gated behind an "I understand" checkbox. I plan to allow my books to be downloaded as PDF and ePUB. It makes sense not to do this retroactively.

Can you create the epub and pdf files yourself and have them distributed unaltered?

Technically, yes, but Amazon customers probably wouldn't benefit from that. I don't currently distribute or sell books directly because that creates a tax burden. So it's probably best to let the various stores handle it. I still want to sell books but I don't want my readers to be restricted by DRM for a book they paid for. The honor system is fine for me.

Edit: I now realize you might mean in the Amazon KDP UI. I don't see a way to upload your own.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#216

Post by chocochunks »

zelphirkalt wrote: post #141
wrxd wrote: post #39

This was unexpected. They lost me as a customer when they stopped allowing me to download books I bought and I'm in the Kobo (+ BookLore) side now and I am not coming back. I wonder how many books are actually DRM-free and are going to be affected by this change. I suspect relatively few, but I would be happy to be wrong

But Kobo is bad too. Try refunding a book. Their website sent me in neverending circles and still I could not find a way to refund. Their stuff requires some specific reader or so. I don't quite remember the details, but I bought a book, thinking to avoid Amazon shit. Then I realized that their stuff sucks and I don't want to buy their blessed device or install special reader software. Also not DRM-free. So I wanted…

It's not super easy to refund digital goods in general with few exceptions like Steam. I have done it with Kobo but IIRC you have to chat with a CS rep or least you did when I did it.

No where legit is DRM free for eBooks from the big publishers. You don't even have to use the Kobo app since they let you download the ACSM file and use it Adobe Digital Editions which could be used on a computer or ADE supported eReader like Pocketbook (or Kobo!). This has been the case since before they were even called Kobo! And if the publisher offers the book DRM free they just give you a DRM-free ePub instead of the ACSM file.

These days, with the Calibre DeACSM and DeDRM plug-ins you don't even need ADE. It's also trivially easy to remove the DRM from the Kobo desktop app or their readers. It's way easier than Amazon and a way better experience with multiple routes to a DRM free file.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#217

Post by asplake »

rpdillon wrote: post #196
asplake wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where possible, I try not to focus on negative motives. Quite simply, if people see a benefit in DRM-free, why not expect them to pay for it? And there are other platforms beside the two I mentioned – it’s not a choice between DRM-free and (for better or for worse) Amazon.

In case your question was not rhetorical: to folks like me, I view DRM as abuse, because it inevitably leads to me paying for something that I won't end up being able to access down the line. It is in direct conflict with building a library. Having the author opt-in to applying DRM to their books (as you have on Amazon and Google Play, for example) and then expected me to pay them extra so I can actually own the thin…

I reduced Amazon pricing yesterday for Christmas

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#218

Post by namibj »

nsagent wrote: post #185
icqFDR wrote: post #44

I’d advise anyone buying e-books on Amazon to think it through carefully. My account was banned recently because, years ago, I ordered two paper books that Amazon said would be split into two shipments. Both books arrived without any issues, but later Amazon refunded me for one of them, claiming that one package never arrived. This happened 4–5 years ago. Apparently, during a recent review, they decided this counted…

They screwed me in a different way. I simply didn't log into Amazon for a couple years as I've tried to minimize my use of Amazon. When I went to log in, they locked my account without any way to unlock it. Talking with support multiple times did nothing. Now all my digital purchases are gone. Edit: If anyone knows a way to get them to unlock the account, I'd appreciate it. They won't issue a password reset or anythi…

If you're in the US just look up the small claims process local near you, and do it. The fee is small and you'll learn how it works, and that's worst case.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#219

Post by m463 »

cwillu wrote: post #4

But only if the author/publisher explicitly go in and permit it. This isn't announcing that pdf's and epub's are now available for everything that was drm-free, this is announcing that they will _permit_ pdf's and epub's to be available.

> But only if the author/publisher explicitly go in and permit it.

actually, many kindle books I have from years ago mention they have no drm at the request of the publisher.

...yet were distributed in DRM .azw format

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