New audiobooks and ebooks almost always have DRM limitations, which are designed to protect intellectual property and publishing profits. DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. It is a publishers way of restricting and controlling content.
When DRM is technology-based, it makes the technology less accessible for people who legally download the books. Reading an ebook is more enjoyable on an ereader, but doing the other things that people do with books - sharing, commenting in each other's books, and reselling books - are not experiences that publishers readily allow for ebooks.
In the paperbook world, it is possible to easily lend books, which is one of the primary selling points of the Nook. However, even the Nook's sharing policy is fairly restrictive. There is a Facebook group devoted to Nook users who want to lend each other books, so the online community has gotten around the intention of lending books to Nook-owning friends and family. DRM is more of an obstacle than a restriction.
Similarities Between DRM Restrictions and English Bible Restrictions
In 1408, the Synod at Oxford issued what could be one of the first broad rights management statement: "No one shall henceforth of his own authority translate any text of Scripture into English; and no part of any such book or treatise composed in the time of John Wycliffe or later shall be read in public or private, under pain of excommunication."
It is not unlike modern copyright notices, such as this one suggested by the FBI in 2006: "Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000."
There was a lot more pain than excommunication for violators. When the Tudor English government enforced the Catholic church's right to authorize and protect the Bible, people faced imprisonment, torture, and death. When the modern American government enforce companies' rights to authorize and protected works, people suffer imprisonment and fines.
When the Latin Vulgate was Translated, the Catholic Monopoly Weakened
When Erasmus translated the New Testament from the Latin Vulgate and restored it into Greek, the doors opened to translating the New Testament into other languages. Different translations had been floating around - the French court used French translations, and Wycliffe's English Bible could be found in English homes.
Erasmus' international reputation and authority made his translation seem benign to the Catholic church, but many people saw an obvious opportunity for change. If Erasmus can translate a Bible, why couldn't Tyndale put the BIble in his English Vernacular? As the Catholic Church lost its monopoly, they responded by putting Erasmus on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum - the list of banned authors.
Insisting on a Latin Bible that could only be read by authorized people didn't work for the Catholic church. People found a way around it because the content meant more to them than the control. That is happening right now with the Open Source Initiative movement. Wycliffe, Erasmus, and Tyndale unlocked the Bible, just as DRM "protected" content is being unlocked today.
When DRM is Stripped, Device Monopolies are Weakened
Corporations are not non-profits, but profit isn't the only goal. Money motivates innovation, and people deserve to be paid for their products and their work. At the same time, customers are not thieves. When people buy ebooks, they expect to own them, not just own access rights. DRM takes away ownership. It restricts access, and makes transferring files difficult. It can prevent users from accessing books across multiple platforms and devices - most non-techy people can not "share" books, even with themselves, unless the platforms have a pre-arranged agreement.
Because corporations are protective of DRM, people back away from responsibility for creating or endorsing DRM stripping. In Engaget's software review of a DRM remover, author Ryan Black says, "P.S. - Kinda goes without saying but we take absolutely zero accountability for what you may do with FairUse4forWM, ok?" ("FairUse4WM Strips Windows Media DRM!" August 25, 2006.)
DRM isn't as Useful as Corporations Think
Even after the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1996, violations of copyright have continued. According to Attributor's U.S. Anti-Piracy Research Findings, "Online book piracy represents roughly 10% of total United States book sales...As a point of comparison, the (offline and online piracy rate) for software is 41%." DRM doesn't work to stop piracy, and in February 2007, Steve Jobs argued against DRM in his open letter, "Thoughts on Music."
"DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy. Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music."
It should be noted that although Steve Jobs has argued against DRMs, his company is responsible for some interesting cease and desist letters. When Gawker tried to get pictures of an unconfirmed Apple product, Apple's lawyers sent a letter saying, "Considering that you may not be aware of the illegal nature of your Scavenger Hunt, we want to explain why it is against the law."
Today, anyone can access bibles in multiple formats, and virtually any version, language, and platform is available through Youversion, an open Bible project. The Catholic Church lost its hold when it squeezed too tight, and DRM is squeezing too tight. It restricts the users who purchase products legally. The ease of wireless downloading on an ereader is a great piracy deterrent. Being able to pay a fair price and have a book magically appear on a Kindle screen within a minute seems like a good deal for everyone.
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
