Frania Hall (2013, p:144) describes digital rights management (DRM) as a ‘reasonably robust’ and ‘effective’ way of managing copyright and ensuring the content is only used the way intended by the owner. It is relatively cheap and straightforward technology and used also against piracy. DRM describes the controls that can be built into or around the use of electronic product (Hall, 2013, p:21) and comes in various forms for example requiring a keycode to ‘unlock’ digital content.
It is a topic that divides publishers, over the effectiveness of DRM on ebook files (Page and Williams, 2012). Some believe it is vital to preserve DRM in order to ‘protect copyright and to inhibit file-sharing between mainstream readers. (Page and Williams, 2012). They believe somebody has to fund and support content the world absorbs and the ‘only sensible way to do that is for those who consume creations to value them and pay for them’ (Smart, 2012).
However, other publishers campaign for content to be DRM free as it ‘doesn’t stop those who are determined to avoid paying for content, and acts as a barrier for those who will happily pay’ (Smart, 2012). It can be cumbersome, frustrating customers who want to legitimately buy and support online content. It only provides a certain amount of protection to owners of content as it is ‘reasonably easy’ to break in to (Hall, 2013). Osprey set up a DRM free military history digital list aimed at the specialist military history readers to create a ‘comprehensive library for our loyal online community’ (Sullivan, cited in Jones, 2012). As well as bringing unavailable titles back to the mass market (Jones, 2012), it builds loyalty to the brand showing customers Osprey trust them, in turn reducing the likelihood of piracy (Smart, 2009). Linked to this, there is also no evidence that DRM prevents copyright theft (Hall, 2013), and the absence of DRM on Harry Potter ebooks actually has led to a 25% reduction in digital piracy of the novels (Page and Williams, 2012), something Osprey are potentially hoping will happen for them.
I believe DRM inhibits legitimate users who having paid for the product believe they own it, for example it may not work on all formats and devices, or they could lose access if the DRM changes or is discontinued; for example Amazon remotely deleted copies of George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm after discovering they did not have the rights to distribute it in certain territories (Stone, 2009). It raises the question of ownership if content paid for can be removed without explanation and no doubt angered Kindle owners. In contrast, Osprey reach out to their readers by offering all ebooks from The Robot Trading Company DRM free, compatible with all e-readers and smart-phones including iPhone and Android (Robot Trading Company, 2014).
It does seem more publishers are experimenting with going DRM free, with Penguin, Pan Macmillan and Osprey all beginning to test different business models (Page and Williams, 2012), while Michael Bhaskar of ProfileBooks acknowledges the ‘rationale for dropping DRM is growing’ although he explains it’s a ‘difficult step for publishers’ (cited in Page and Williams, 2012) to take.
Word Count: 524
Bibliography:
Hall, F., (2013). The Business of Digital Publishing: An introduction to the digital book and journal industries. Routledge: London and New York.
Johnson, B., (2009). Amazon Kindle users surprised by ‘Big Brother’ move. The Guardian. [online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jul/17/amazon-kindle-1984 (Accessed 26.10.14)
Jones, P., (2012). Osprey launches DRM-free list. The Bookseller [online] Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/osprey-launches-drm-free-list (Accessed 26.10.14)
Page, B., and Williams, C., (2012). Trade raises DRM concerns. The Bookseller. [online] Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/trade-raises-drm-concerns (accessed 26.10.14).
Smart, R., (2012). Bring Back The Magic. ORGZine. [online] Available at: https://zine.openrightsgroup.org/features/2012/bring-back-the-magic
Stone, B., (2009). Amazon Erases Orwell Books From Kindle. The New York Times. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/technology/companies/18amazon.html?_r=1& (Accessed 25.10.14)
Robot Trading Company., (2014). Welcome to the Robot Trading Company. Robot Trading Company.com. [online] Available at: http://www.robottradingcompany.com/ (Accessed 26.10.14)
It is a topic that divides publishers, over the effectiveness of DRM on ebook files (Page and Williams, 2012). Some believe it is vital to preserve DRM in order to ‘protect copyright and to inhibit file-sharing between mainstream readers. (Page and Williams, 2012). They believe somebody has to fund and support content the world absorbs and the ‘only sensible way to do that is for those who consume creations to value them and pay for them’ (Smart, 2012).
However, other publishers campaign for content to be DRM free as it ‘doesn’t stop those who are determined to avoid paying for content, and acts as a barrier for those who will happily pay’ (Smart, 2012). It can be cumbersome, frustrating customers who want to legitimately buy and support online content. It only provides a certain amount of protection to owners of content as it is ‘reasonably easy’ to break in to (Hall, 2013). Osprey set up a DRM free military history digital list aimed at the specialist military history readers to create a ‘comprehensive library for our loyal online community’ (Sullivan, cited in Jones, 2012). As well as bringing unavailable titles back to the mass market (Jones, 2012), it builds loyalty to the brand showing customers Osprey trust them, in turn reducing the likelihood of piracy (Smart, 2009). Linked to this, there is also no evidence that DRM prevents copyright theft (Hall, 2013), and the absence of DRM on Harry Potter ebooks actually has led to a 25% reduction in digital piracy of the novels (Page and Williams, 2012), something Osprey are potentially hoping will happen for them.
I believe DRM inhibits legitimate users who having paid for the product believe they own it, for example it may not work on all formats and devices, or they could lose access if the DRM changes or is discontinued; for example Amazon remotely deleted copies of George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm after discovering they did not have the rights to distribute it in certain territories (Stone, 2009). It raises the question of ownership if content paid for can be removed without explanation and no doubt angered Kindle owners. In contrast, Osprey reach out to their readers by offering all ebooks from The Robot Trading Company DRM free, compatible with all e-readers and smart-phones including iPhone and Android (Robot Trading Company, 2014).
It does seem more publishers are experimenting with going DRM free, with Penguin, Pan Macmillan and Osprey all beginning to test different business models (Page and Williams, 2012), while Michael Bhaskar of ProfileBooks acknowledges the ‘rationale for dropping DRM is growing’ although he explains it’s a ‘difficult step for publishers’ (cited in Page and Williams, 2012) to take.
Word Count: 524
Bibliography:
Hall, F., (2013). The Business of Digital Publishing: An introduction to the digital book and journal industries. Routledge: London and New York.
Johnson, B., (2009). Amazon Kindle users surprised by ‘Big Brother’ move. The Guardian. [online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jul/17/amazon-kindle-1984 (Accessed 26.10.14)
Jones, P., (2012). Osprey launches DRM-free list. The Bookseller [online] Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/osprey-launches-drm-free-list (Accessed 26.10.14)
Page, B., and Williams, C., (2012). Trade raises DRM concerns. The Bookseller. [online] Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/trade-raises-drm-concerns (accessed 26.10.14).
Smart, R., (2012). Bring Back The Magic. ORGZine. [online] Available at: https://zine.openrightsgroup.org/features/2012/bring-back-the-magic
Stone, B., (2009). Amazon Erases Orwell Books From Kindle. The New York Times. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/technology/companies/18amazon.html?_r=1& (Accessed 25.10.14)
Robot Trading Company., (2014). Welcome to the Robot Trading Company. Robot Trading Company.com. [online] Available at: http://www.robottradingcompany.com/ (Accessed 26.10.14)