I don’t hate the concept of ebooks per se but what bothers me is how our society is shifting from actually owning entertainment in tangible forms like books and CDs and DVDs and game discs, to having to download everything so basically we’ll get to the point where everything is intangible and all of our property can be taken away by a website crash.
#yeah this is mostly the problem#and stuff like. ebooks that can only be read on one companys app#music that can only be streamed from one place and doesnt let you actually download the files#stuff like that#like sometimes its like you cant tangibly have anything even your own digital file#idk where i was going with this but yeah its capitalism (via @ouidamforeman)
“Almost exactly ten years ago, you may remember, Amazon came stealthily along and deleted e-copies of 1984 (no seriously, they did) and Animal Farm from people’s Kindles — copies they’d already paid for and downloaded — because it turned out that there was a rights problem with the e-publisher. Jeff Bezos wound up apologizing all over himself and taking it all back and promising never to do that ever again, but the fact remains that Amazon has some kind of access to your Kindle files and can literally remove them, if they feel like it, which is downright creepy, and if it were your computer you would not like it one little bit.”
https://popula.com/2019/06/30/own-paper-books/
I’m sure that someone already said this in the notes, but you guys are aware that you don’t actually own e-books, e-movies, etc. Right? What you’re purchasing is a license to have that file on your device. Not the actual object.
I’ve also posted about it multiple times.
Plus, Amazon, Google, Kobo, B&N are all explicit in their user agreements that they have the right to terminate your account, seize your library, and delete anything and everything off of your account at any time, for any reason, without giving you anything in return, including paying you back.
Like, it super scary that they not only can do that, but are legally allowed to.
I’ve seen people suggesting using the program called Calibre to transfer and convert your files from whatever program you purchase them on, so that if one of those companies do decide to be a dick, you will retain your e-copies safe and sound on your hard drive. Just don’t be an asshole and post those copies to pirate sites.
So read your content agreements and digital ownership laws cause they’re not great.
Paper books still have their uses.
And that very fact, my friends, is why products like Epubor Ultimate DRM removal tool (my personal choice) are legal to write and sell and use.
https://www.epubor.com/drm-removal-tools.html
Because yes, the terms of service sure say that. But every time they’ve /tried/ on a significant scale, they’ve been challenged and backed down. And every time they tried to stop DRM removal tools from being made and sold, they’ve failed. What they’re doing relies on keeping off enough toes that a significant bloc never gets pissed enough to push through a class action suit.
So, yes, absolutely, know this and, if you (like me) have book-gasms over having my library of 2000 books always at my fingertips to read whatever I like, get Calibre (https://calibre-ebook.com/) and then get one of the DRM removal applications. Jailbreak your library, back it up in at least three locations, and then pass this tip on in the joyful knowledge that all the major distributors are praying you don’t tell anyone else how easy this is.
Computer nerds have been screaming at tye world about this for 20 years and none of you listened to us, and you called us crazy. Have fun with your streaming services!
As an author, I will say this.
If you buy an ebook from me, take and keep a screen shot that proves that purchase.
If for any reason you lose access to your copy, contact me, provide that screen shot, and I’ll send one your way. I’d rather risk somebody doing this to get a second copy to pirate than have my readers lose their books.
My books are also DRM free unless you buy them through Apple, which puts DRM on whether the publisher likes it or not. Because DRM, in my experience, inconveniences legitimate users more than pirates.
(Another thing. Get Calibre. If you have an ebook that won’t open, sometimes opening it in Calibre and reconverting it will fix the problem. Not always, but often enough to make it a useful rescue tool).
