eReader might clarify FAQ covering DRM: Says Ficbot can fix credit card-related problem in ‘perhaps 2 or 3 minutes’
After Ficbot’s credit card got compromised, she worried about her eReader books. Their DRM relies on scrambled card numbers, and Ficbot said the DRM would waste many hours of her time, in the wake of the incident.
But that needn’t happen, says Steve Pendergrast of eReader/Fictionwise, and we’re delighted to offer his side. Just by way of background, eReader is among the better stores on the Net, and Steve himself is hardly the biggest fan of DRM, which he includes at the insistence of certain major publishers. But he encourages publishers to use a DRMless approach, with books in many formats—MultiFormat, as Fictionwise calls it.
‘Perhaps 2 or 3 minutes’ to fix problem
Responding to Ficbot, Steve writes via our comment area: “I do understand that all DRM systems have drawbacks, but after reading your post I really think you are misunderstanding the system. The total time to ‘fix’ this problem is perhaps 2 or 3 minute.”
That said, both Steve and Ficbot appear to be right, in different ways. I have no reason to doubt that Steve would be correct about the 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, however, Fictbot’s big point remains. DRM adds complexity to book purchases and the continued enjoyment of books. Do you need to wade through an FAQ to assure yourself full access to audio CDs, for example, if an ID thief gets your card numbers?
Especially for recreational reads such as e-books, it is imperative to keep customers’ hassles to a minimum—one reason why I’m worried about groups such as textbook publishers influencing the DRM policy for the IDPF. You must read a textbook. Virtually no one, unless you’re a lit student, compels you to read a novel.
Meanwhile, quite laudably and in character, Steve is “asking our team to review the FAQ and make sure it is clear on these points” of interest to Ficbot.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 am
I just logged on to eReader and changed the credit card number for all 41 books I have in the library. It worked perfectly. I thought I had lost them forever as they were keyed to an old credit card whose number I had forgotten. Thanks for the info, I never would have figured it out from the site.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I think all of my recent Fictionwise purchases have come with a warning that I should hurry and download my books as there is no guarantee that the books will be available for more than three months.
December 5th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Sue (and Steve P): Thanks. I’d like to know more about that warning. Why has the warning popped up recently? FW has been much better than the typical bookstore in the book-locker department. I’m rooting mightily for ePub to take root everywhere, my real fixation, but meanwhile stores need to look out for their existing customers. Disk space and bandwidth aren’t that expensive.
Thank goodness for nonencrypted ePub. May Steve P excel at convincing publishers to go that route!
Thanks,
David