Monday, July 6, 2009
Dear Reader: We Feel Your eBook Pain
In an era of disruptive media technologies, one technology exceeds all others in its ability to disrupt. It’s a technology that is literally shaping the way we buy, use, and interact with all forms of media — including ebooks. I am speaking, of course, about Digital Rights Management (DRM).
In theory, DRM is designed to prevent the theft of digital content. In reality, DRM is more likely to keep readers from buying ebooks. Or from reading an ebook, should they somehow manage to buy one.
DRM is a technology unlike any other in the 500-year history of publishing. While most publishing technologies lead to the printing and reading of more books, DRM is specifically designed to keep people from reading books.
What’s mystifying is that so many publishers insist on using DRM. Looking at this from a publisher’s perspective, there are many reasons to avoid DRM:
- DRM adds unnecessary cost and complexity to the production of ebooks.
- DRM creates artificial barriers to the purchase and legitimate use of ebooks. Matching ebook format to reading device shouldn’t be a guessing game.
- DRM creates an unnecessary support burden for publishers. When readers buy new laptops, they shouldn’t have to call and beg for permission to authorize their new computer to read books they’ve already purchased.
- Here’s the punch line: DRM doesn’t actually prevent piracy. The pirate networks are full of print books that have never been released in any digital format. Any book that can be read can be digitized. DRM won’t prevent that.
Any way you look at it, DRM adds no value, while creating huge barriers to the reading and enjoyment of fine literature (and even mediocre literature). Since Quartet Press is in business to produce great books, it doesn’t make sense to use a technology that’s designed to disrupt the reading process. That’s not what we’re about.
Besides, we’re ebook readers too. We know that the process of buying and reading ebooks is way more confusing and frustrating than it should be.
When you buy an ebook from Quartet Press you will be able to:
- Read our books on whatever device you choose.
- Know that your books will be accessible. If anything happens, you can always download your books again in the future. And you don’t have to worry about any “activation servers” going down.
- Avoid worrying about future device compatibility issues. When you buy a book from us, you can be confident that you’ll be able to read that book on the next great reading device that comes along (unless that device is locked down by DRM — in which case it won’t really be all that great).
I know we’ve only just met, but I’m here to tell you that we trust you’ll do the right thing with our books after you’ve purchased them. We’re not going to insult or inconvenience you by using DRM.
Here’s to reading without restraint.
Here’s to stories (and ebooks) that last forever.
“In theory, DRM is designed to prevent the theft of digital content. In reality, DRM is more likely to keep readers from buying ebooks. Or from reading an ebook, should they somehow manage to buy one.”
So so true. I’ve heard many readers restate this along with their frustration at not being able to transfer their books the way they want. After all, they bought it so it IS theirs. They shouldn’t be restricted. Ultimately (and sadly) with this experience, they give up and return to paperbacks with a bad first impression of ebooks.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what great things Quartet has in store. I’ve been following news via the owners and am really excited! Great article!
You now have another follower on twitter.Anyone who is willing to forgo DRM is a friend of mine.
I have wondered if the publishing world is holding onto DRM in the hopes that if they make it as hard as possible, ebooks will go the way 8-track tapes and cassetts? Then they can always write off the losses? Just a thought from my twisted mind.
Looking forward to seeing what you have to offer and that I want to buy. I love to shop.
Thanks!
Nobody enjoys purchasing a product and then having to ask permission to use it due to some problem or limitation in the DRM technology. One only has to look at the video game industry to see that DRM does not stop theft. After one headache purchasing software, I seek out and purchase products without DRM.
DRM is also a technology that denies people with disabilities the right to read. Bravo for not creating a needless barrier to literacy!
I second Jim’s comment. DRM encryption on the Kindle makes those books inaccessible to any other software or e-book reading device. This makes them inaccessible to blind reader, so long as the Kindle hardware remains inaccessible. If Kindle books could be read on other hardware and through accessible software, we wouldn’t have a good case against ASU. We’re not looking to harm anyone or take anything away from the sighted; we just need to be afforded the same opportunities to read and participate.
I also hope Quartet is considering accessibility in the formats of the e-books it produces. If not, many of us in the online connected blind community stand ready to assist with the necessary consulting and testing.
I find myself moving more and more to people willing to produce content under these conditions: they trust me, so I trust them.
I am so happy Quartet is here!
As a parent with a child who has dyslexia, I applaud your decision! Kudos!
@Darrell As you know, DRM is probably the biggest barrier to ebook accessibility. Since we aren’t using DRM that’s one barrier eliminated.
Beyond that our ebooks will be developed using standards based markup and accessible navigational elements. There’s nothing that will prevent you from using whatever application you like to read our books.
I’m quite familiar with the WCAG guidelines for accessible web content. I’m not aware of any similar guidelines for ebook content. If there are any such guidelines I would definitely like to know more about them.