New option for authors: Now you can turn off Digital Rights Management (DRM) !!

[Joseph Rhea]

I just logged into my book at Amazon's DigitalTextPlatform  (1/15) and found the following two new options:

- Enable digital rights management (DRM)
- Do not enable digital rights management

When did this happen?
Why are they allowing us to turn off DRM?
What are you fellow authors planning to do with this new freedom? Are you going to turn off DRM (to make some readers happy) or leave it on (to prevent illegal copying)?

I have a feeling this is a bit like opening Pandora's box...

[Joseph Rhea]

Well, allow me to be the first to dive headfirst into the new DRM-free pool. Starting tomorrow (1/16 - or whenever my change takes effect) my book,  Cyberdrome will no longer be constrained by DRM encryption.

I can only speak for myself, but I know I would be happy with someone buying my book and sharing it on 2 Kindles, or a Kindle and a PC (with the Kindle reader), or your iPhone. It's yours, so why shouldn't you be able to read it anywhere you want? I am also not that worried about people "stealing" it and making thousands of copies that are spread all over the web - I should be so popular!

So, I am officially stating it here for you (and Google to store) - "If you buy the new DRM-FREE Kindle version of Cyberdrome, I am authorizing you to read it wherever you want, whenever you want, on as many platforms as you want, so long as you both shall live."

Cheers, peace, and long live freedom for the readers!

p.s. Authors, be aware that when you make the change, DTM actually reprocesses your book (to exclude the DRM encryption) so make sure you look at the preview before accepting. I can't see why removing DRM would affect anything inside your document, but check just to make sure...

p.p.s. I wonder how long this will take to trickle down (or up) to the mainstream publishers, and if they will accept it. I imagine not (but maybe that will give Indie books a bit of a boost with readership.)

[MariaESchneider]

I saw you posted this on the amazon kindle forum--really nice to have choices--and provide choices for the reader.

[Joseph Rhea]

I saw you posted this on the amazon kindle forum--really nice to have choices--and provide choices for the reader.

Yes, I think this news is too big not to spread it wherever we can!
I think is was Neo in the Matrix Trilogy who said, "Everything begins with choice."
Lets get the word out - we finally have a choice!

[Geoffrey]

This is cool ... and now I'm curious whether the DRM setting will be visible on Amazon's book pages ....  I looked at Cyberdrome and didn't see anything showing DRM Status ... but that could mean nothing at all.

If I know something is DRM free, I do think I would be more likely to buy it.  I did the same thing with music ...

[Joseph Rhea]

This is cool ... and now I'm curious whether the DRM setting will be visible on Amazon's book pages ....  I looked at Cyberdrome and didn't see anything showing DRM Status ... but that could mean nothing at all.

If I know something is DRM free, I do think I would be more likely to buy it.  I did the same thing with music ...

No, there is nothing showing on the book pages (and I'm sure Amazon wouldn't want to advertise it, especially since they didn't even mention this new option as far as I can tell). However, I found a tag for "drmfree" and I added it to my book. I suggest every author who makes the switch be sure and add the tag to their book. It couldn't hurt if we all "tag" each others books as well. I, for one, would be happy to tag anyone who makes the change, and lists their book here!

[David Derrico]

My books have been DRM free for a while... you can tell where it says "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited." My stance is that DRM annoys legitimate customers and doesn't prevent piracy anyway. Plus, if someone sent a free copy of my book to every person on Earth, would I be better or worse off? WAY better! Then everyone would have heard of me, maybe buy my other books, I'd get a movie deal, etc...

Anyway, I'd greatly appreciate any tagging assistance on my books (links below in sig) ... I just added the "drmfree" tag too.

PS: Is there a "help each other tag our books" thread I missed?

[HappyGuy]

Perhaps Amazon is trying to move onto other platforms - Sony, Nook, etc. Would make sense to me. I hate having to have a different reader for each proprietary format!!      And, after all, they are a bookstore, right?

Just my humble opinion, but, I would be MUCH more likely to purchase a non-DRM'ed book, if it were available.

[Joseph Rhea]

My books have been DRM free for a while... you can tell where it says "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited." My stance is that DRM annoys legitimate customers and doesn't prevent piracy anyway. Plus, if someone sent a free copy of my book to every person on Earth, would I be better or worse off? WAY better! Then everyone would have heard of me, maybe buy my other books, I'd get a movie deal, etc...

Anyway, I'd greatly appreciate any tagging assistance on my books (links below in sig) ... I just added the "drmfree" tag too.

PS: Is there a "help each other tag our books" thread I missed?

David,
My book has always said "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited" and so does every Kindle book I just looked at, so I don't think that is what it means. Also, how do you know your books are DRM-free? If you publish them through Amazon's DTM service, I don't think you have ever had the option to turn it off until now. At least I have never seen this option (and I have been here for almost 2 years)...

[MariaESchneider]

Oh, then I guess mine have been DRM free for a while.  I set that the last time I uploaded, although it didn't read the way it does now.  I was a little worried that selecting it now might affect formatting.  And the last thing I need is to have formatting become an issue...

[Joseph Rhea]

Oh, then I guess mine have been DRM free for a while.  I set that the last time I uploaded, although it didn't read the way it does now.  I was a little worried that selecting it now might affect formatting.  And the last thing I need is to have formatting become an issue...

When did you last upload, Maria? Because, I was there two weeks ago and I didn't notice this new option. Today, it stood out like a sore thumb...

[sierra09]

For books already uploaded, is this a required choice or can you just leave things are they are? I see the little red thingey that means required but I'm not certain if that's just for new uploads, like if you do a revision, or if you have to make the choice.

Also, making a choice, does that put the book back into review? That would be the only thing that would keep me from choosing an option.

[Joseph Rhea]

For books already uploaded, is this a required choice or can you just leave things are they are? I see the little red thingey that means required but I'm not certain if that's just for new uploads, like if you do a revision, or if you have to make the choice.

Also, making a choice, does that put the book back into review? That would be the only thing that would keep me from choosing an option.

Sierra,
I would say don't change anything unless you want to remove the DRM protection. Changing this option, however, will make the DTP (DigitalTextPlatform) program reconvert your original content, just like when you upload a new version. So, just make sure you preview the final version before re-publishing your book (not that it should change anything, but look anyway). Then, yes, your book goes back into the "review phase" which usually take about 24 hours (at least for me). However, your original book is still available during this period, so you don't really loose sales.

I am "losing sales" right now simply because I told everyone who wants a DRM-free copy of my book to hold off buying until tomorrow (Sat 1/16) when I expect my new version will go online. That was my decision and it doesn't have to be yours. You can just let everyone know after the change takes effect if you want...

Hope that helps!

[David Derrico]

Interesting... I literally looked at it last night and I'm pretty sure the DRM thing wasn't there, and now it is. Some people over on the MobileRead forums assured me that "Device Usage: Unlimited" means there is no DRM whatsoever attached (there are plenty of books that list a maximum number of devices on the Kindle store). But I'm not 100% positive. Next time I update my book, I will choose the "No DRM" option just to be sure.

People can always buy a DRM-free version from my own website too. 

[Joseph Rhea]

Interesting... I literally looked at it last night and I'm pretty sure the DRM thing wasn't there, and now it is. Some people over on the MobileRead forums assured me that "Device Usage: Unlimited" means there is no DRM whatsoever attached (there are plenty of books that list a maximum number of devices on the Kindle store). But I'm not 100% positive. Next time I update my book, I will choose the "No DRM" option just to be sure.

People can always buy a DRM-free version from my own website too.  

Here is what I found googling "Simultaneous Device Usage":
from: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_kip_faq_num?nodeId=200298470&#howmany


How many Kindles can I use to access titles in my library?
Most books and other non-subscription items you purchase from the Kindle store may be simultaneously accessed for your personal use on up to six Kindles (or Kindle compatible devices, such as Kindle for iPhone) registered to your Amazon.com account. If the limit is less than six kindles for a specific title, you'll see the message "Simultaneous Device usage: Up to X simultaneous devices, per publisher limits" on the detail page.

If you reach the device limit and wish to replace one of your current devices with a new one, you must first deregister and delete the content from the device you wish to replace before you can access the content in question from your new device. For device registration instructions, please see the Help page for the device you wish to register/deregister on the Kindle Support pages. There is no limit on the number of times a title can be downloaded to a registered device.

Subscription content can only be downloaded to one Kindle at a time and cannot be accessed from Kindle for iPhone.

I take this to mean that "if the limit is not less than six kindles for a specific title," then you get the "Unlimited" message. So if the number you see on a book is less (like 5) then that is something set by the publisher...

[sierra09]

Thanks, that's what I needed to know. I think right now I may leave it alone or try one at a time. Definitely will wait until this head cold goes away as I can't handle checking formats when my head feels like it's in a vise.

[Jeff]

For anyone that's still confused, here's a screenshot that I used in another thread:



I removed the DRM from all my books and yes, it did put them back into review but they were republished within a day and the original pages remained up the whole time.

[Eric C]

What exactly is the benefit to consumers of removing DRM from my book? What could Kindle owners do with the book they couldn't do before?

[Jeff]

What exactly is the benefit to consumers of removing DRM from my book? What could Kindle owners do with the book they couldn't do before?

Clearly it opens up limitless possibilities for new hardware and software readers.

I haven't experimented yet because getting an updated copy is so hard, but my guess is that an unencrypted file has no PID embedded in it so you would be able to open the file with the Kindle or Kindle for PC without going through Manage My Kindle as you must with DRM protected books. It should also open in Mobipocket Reader and any other reader that supports Kindle or Mobipocket files.

[Chad Winters (#102)]

and probably Calibre as well

[Jeff]

and probably Calibre as well

Yes. I should have mentioned Calibre.

[Joseph Rhea]

What exactly is the benefit to consumers of removing DRM from my book? What could Kindle owners do with the book they couldn't do before?

It also opens up the possibility of "giving" your purchased Kindle book to a friend or family member after reading, but since that still goes against the copyright agreement, I would have to say that just my opinion and not a recommendation.

If you ask about my book, Cyberdrome, specifically, I would have no problem if you GAVE it to a friend after reading it. By GAVE, I mean delete your version after copying it to them. That way it would make my ebook more like a physical paperback.

What none of us want, however, is for someone to put their DRM-free ebook on a server where everyone can download it for free. That is not only illegal, but it would make authors like myself rethink our generosity, and force us back into DRM encryption, which would be sad...

[Betsy the Quilter]

David,
My book has always said "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited" and so does every Kindle book I just looked at, so I don't think that is what it means. Also, how do you know your books are DRM-free? If you publish them through Amazon's DTM service, I don't think you have ever had the option to turn it off until now. At least I have never seen this option (and I have been here for almost 2 years)...

I think this has been appearing more and more, but it used to be on very few Kindle books.  It does mean DRM free; there have been other mentions of it here.

Betsy

[Joseph Rhea]

I think this has been appearing more and more, but it used to be on very few Kindle books.  It does mean DRM free; there have been other mentions of it here.

Betsy

Here is what I found googling "Simultaneous Device Usage":
from: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_kip_faq_num?nodeId=200298470&#howmany

How many Kindles can I use to access titles in my library?
Most books and other non-subscription items you purchase from the Kindle store may be simultaneously accessed for your personal use on up to six Kindles (or Kindle compatible devices, such as Kindle for iPhone) registered to your Amazon.com account. If the limit is less than six kindles for a specific title, you'll see the message "Simultaneous Device usage: Up to X simultaneous devices, per publisher limits" on the detail page.

If you reach the device limit and wish to replace one of your current devices with a new one, you must first deregister and delete the content from the device you wish to replace before you can access the content in question from your new device. For device registration instructions, please see the Help page for the device you wish to register/deregister on the Kindle Support pages. There is no limit on the number of times a title can be downloaded to a registered device.

Subscription content can only be downloaded to one Kindle at a time and cannot be accessed from Kindle for iPhone.

I take this to mean that "if the limit is not less than six kindles for a specific title," then you get the "Unlimited" message. So if the number you see on a book is less (like 5) then that is something set by the publisher. This has nothing to do with DRM protection being on or off...

[Eric C]

Thanks for the explanations, people. Sounds a tad dangerous. You go first ...