2 ms·

The biggest issues are often DRM. Most ebook readers will lock out books if you cannot constantly ask a DRM server for permission. A great example is when Micr

by lrvick 4y ago

The biggest issues are often DRM. Most ebook readers will lock out books if you cannot constantly ask a DRM server for permission. A great example is when Microsoft shut down their e-book stores, and the supporting DRM infrastructure. The books stopped working. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47810367 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47810367 Then there was that one time in 2009 Amazon remotely deleted Orwell titles including, ironically, 1984. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-sued-for-kindle-deletion-of-orwell/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-sued-for-kindle-deletion... There was also the more recent incident where Amazon censored a book on transgenderism. You can argue this book has dangerous takes, but there is no excuse to delete any book. It was published and relevant for someone studying these issues. Even books by horrible people like Mein Kampf must be preserved for researchers. https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/01/09/based-on-false-assumption-amazon-still-censoring-book-on-transgenderism/ https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/01/09/based-on-false-assump... Other than rare exceptions like NoStarchPress, Ebooks on most platforms are not yours. You will not be able to loan them to a friend, pass them down to family, or resell them. They can also be remotely deleted or edited, and there are powerful book censorship political movements that want to legally mandate exactly that. The CCP already makes use of this power, such as their edits to Permanent Record by Edward Snowden. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/12/edward-snowden-says-autobiography-permanent-record-censored-in-china https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/12/edward-snowd... I know it is a pain, but if your only digital book purchase option is a DRM eBook, the ethical thing to do is buy a paper copy. Every DRM eBook purchase is a wallet vote that you find this situation acceptable.

unethical_ban 4y ago
I'm less bothered by a bookstore ceasing to carry a title than I am by them deactivating modifying books after purchase. Every purchased book should be an unmodifiable snapshot, and any good faith updates should only replace a purchase of desired by the owner. Owner being a stretch of a term, as we know.

by lrvick 4y ago

unethical_ban 4y ago

I'm less bothered by a bookstore ceasing to carry a title than I am by them deactivating modifying books after purchase. Every purchased book should be an unmodifiable snapshot, and any good faith updates should only replace a purchase of desired by the owner. Owner being a stretch of a term, as we know.