Comments on: Needed: A logo for nonDRMed ePub books—so people know they can own them for real

By: Jon Noring

Jon Noring — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:18:57 +0000

Hmmmm. Interesting idea, John.

By: John Mark Ockerbloom

John Mark Ockerbloom — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:55:31 +0000

I like the idea of branding for DRM-free, openly specified, indefinitely keepable formats.

Or, more concisely, one could call them something like “open reader” formats.

There wouldn’t just happen to be a brand and logo along those lines sitting idle at the moment, would there? Would the owner of said brand be interested in using it for that purpose?

By: Arthur Attwell

Arthur Attwell — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:31:29 +0000

I agree about Social DRM, David. It’s been bandied around for years, and many (including me) reckon it’s never been given a proper run.

One suggestion I remember reading a few years ago included embedding the ebook-buyer’s credit-card number in the ebook file, which would create a clear incentive to not pass on the file. The obvious dangers of such a system mean it never caught on.

Slashdot has a discussion going about social DRM in iTunes’ new ‘DRM-free’ regime: “iTunes DRM-Free Files Contain Personal Info”, at http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09%2F01%2F13%2F036211

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out at iTunes.

By: Garson O'Toole

Garson O'Toole — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:09:43 +0000

A new logo would be great, but perhaps it should not be used for DRM-free e-books. Instead the new logo could be placed on all e-books with DRM. Here are some possibilities. Manacles would represent the entrapment of the user in a proprietary system. A bear trap with sharply pointed teeth would symbolize the pain felt when trying to move an e-book to a new device. A ticking time bomb would signify that the e-book will become inaccessible and worthless if the publisher fails or simply changes its policy on a whim.

The DRM logo should also incorporate a warning similar to the U.S. Surgeon General’s admonition: “The aggravation you experience using this DRM encrusted object will shorten your life as much as a package of cigarettes.”

More seriously, any product with DRM should provide full notification and disclosure to the customer of its myriad drawbacks in advance of any sale.

By: Rich Adin

Rich Adin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:12:58 +0000

Although I don’t buy from Fictionwise (I find their pricing on the high side. For example, I bought 3 books by Fiona McIntosh this morning directly from HarperCollins which was cheaper than Fictionwise), I do appluad FW’s efforts.

The only caution I would give, David, is that FW’s efforts are good only so long as FW remains in business, unless the books are made available in a “universal” non-DRMed format, such as DRM-free ePub.

By: Gary Frost

Gary Frost — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:13:09 +0000

One way forward would be to revert to physical media, the same chip that permits re-socket of phone numbers to a new phone device. Then there would only be the constraint of media deterioration. My 12″ DEC floppies are still in great shape.

By: Antonio Tombolini

Antonio Tombolini — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:26:44 +0000

David, as the CEO of Simplicissimus Book Farm (a digital publishing firm based in Italy) I’m a member of IDPF: as I fully agree with you, please consider I would be happy to join your efforts and be of help, just let me know what to do etc…