The security of digital right management

Back? The future of books

Description:

Digital Rights Management is used by publishers and copyright holders to limit the usage and enforce copyright of e-books. By using DRM, the publishers limit copying, printing and sharing e-books. Other limitations that can be set are the number of maximum views, the number of days the e-book can be accessed etc.

Usually e-books are limited to a number of reading devices and most often to just one. This means that once you downloaded the e-book to your computer, the only way you can access that e-book is through your computer only. The e-book can’t be send to your mobile phone, e-book reader, or another computer.

This is a disadvantage for the customer, as one person can own more than one computer, or, if the computer or reading device breaks, the e-book is lost with it.

The advantage of using DRM is only for the publishers, as they know that only the people that bought the book have access to it.

Enablers:

1. The power of opponents

Even though it is required by law for e-book to have DRM, there are enough opponents for this decision. They could influence the law and the existing or potential e-book readers.

2. Hackers

Hackers can, by cracking the DRM code, increase the popularity of e-books. Therefore, if an e-book can be read for free why bother buying it? The activity of hackers would attract a whole new market segment represented by people who wouldn't have bought the e-book anyway.

3. Development of a software to remove DRM

The software would be developed by hackers but could be used by anyone. This would offer to people the possibility of having access to a free version of any e-book existent.

4. Laws and regulations

Laws can be changed (from requiring to use of DRM) due to massive opposition from prominent organizations and individuals.

Inhibitors:

1. Customer complaint

E-book readers, due to DRM application, would have several disadvantages as: inability to transfer an e-book from one reading device to another, risk of losing the e-book because the reading device crashed/broke, limited access to that e-book (number of views, number of days available).

Based on these disadvantages, several complaints can be filed. If these complaints grow in their number, then all the unsatisfied customer could revolt against the laws applied to e-books that generate their problems. Existing and potential customers would just stop purchasing e-books because they have already experienced the problems or know about them and want to avoid trowing money out of the window.

2. The adoption of DRM by all e-book publishers

If all publishers adopt DRM then readers of free e-books would not have any more access to them. While some of readers might decide to buy the books once free, others would just prefer the paper one. This has an impact on the growth of e-book market.

3. Limitation laws and regulations

Laws that restrict certain activities regarding the usage of e-books could increase in number and applicability.

Web Resources:

Wikipedia