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fromzero fromzero
 
February 11, 2009 05:24 AM

Do you think Amazon will drop DRM on e-books soon?

With iTunes going DRM free could amazon follow suite?
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divyamistr... divyamistr...
 
 February 11, 2009 06:05 AM
In 2-3 years, yes I think DRM-free books will become inevitable. Traditionally, Books and Music/Movies have handled copyright issues differently. Digital books do not suffer as much piracy issues as music/movies. Once Kindle and similar products gain extreme international popularity AND Apple gives them tough competition by adding e-books (not audio-books, but pdf-style e-books), there may very well be a push to get rid of DRM on Amazon ebooks. Again, it all depends on how much willing the publishing companies are in keeping DRM. They haven't had to experience the push and anger that Music/Movie studios have.

So, in my opinion, I think the DRM will go away, but not as fast as we would like to see it disappear.


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jth007 jth007
 
February 11, 2009 12:25 PM
I'm not as optimistic as divyamistry. I don't see it happening for 6-9 years. Much like the record labels, the publishers are the one's demanding DRM. Amazon would have no problem dropping DRM (see their MP3 store).
However, book publishers absolutely will not allow it. They see that as the beginning of the end. And since eBooks popularity is just recently rising, I'm thinking the publishers are sitting where the record labels were sitting five years ago, and we still don't have DRM-free music everywhere (though it's quickly coming to that).

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smallshiny... smallshiny...
 
February 11, 2009 03:47 PM
I would not of imagined it would be practical yet. As there a so few e-book readers out there at the moment. Currently it would be to there advantage to stick to with DRM especially if it works seamlessly with the kindle as it could aid them in the short term as the only practical reader with which they can sell books too. Very much like how apple used there DRM to help make the iPod so popular, or at least the most viable option.

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