3 ms·

Having had to get my hands dirty in the murky world of Adobe DRM, I am pretty sure this is actually an implementation problem with how Barnes & Noble have imple

Having had to get my hands dirty in the murky world of Adobe DRM, I am pretty sure this is actually an implementation problem with how Barnes & Noble have implemented it. As crazy as it may seem, I believe in the B&N case the DRM licence is based on the credit card details. Hence no more credit card, no more licence. One day I may do a longer post how horrifyingly awful Adobe DRM is technically, (never mind the ethics), but knowing what I know, this is not any sort of surprise.

thinkling 14y ago
I don't doubt that Adobe DRM may be awfl, but when the customer isn't allowed to download the book, how does the DRM implementation enter into it? The DRM (as embedded in the ebook files) isn't in play here.
- Samuel3407 14y ago
  I discoveried some nice article to help you resolve this problem: Remove drm from adobe: http://www.epubsoft.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-adobe.html http://www.epubsoft.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-adobe.html How to share nook books: http://www.epubsoft.com/how-to-share-nook-books-with-my-friends.html http://www.epubsoft.com/how-to-share-nook-books-with-my-frie...
- dansingerman 14y ago
  The default Adobe DRM implementation requires that you need an Adobe ID (i.e. an account with Adobe) to access the book. (DRM licences are against Adobe accounts) The bigger players who use Adobe DRM (Like B&N) of course don't want this, so there are alternative schemes where you can use a token to represent the user that is not the Adobe ID. In the B&N case, I believe that token is based on the credit card details. You also only download the actual encrypted epub after the DRM licence has been applied. (The initial download is a small XML file which your Adobe RMSDK app uses to decide if you have access to the ebook) ergo, no valid credit card, no valid account to unlock DRM, and get access to the actual content file.
  - thinkling 14y ago
    Ah, the credit card number is part of the encryption/decryption key [1]. Since it seems unlikely that the Nook decrypts the book once and stores a decrypted copy, the Nook also must store the credit card number--or hopefully a hashed version of it. Apparently so [2]. [1] "I cannot unlock my books" at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-books-frequently-asked-questions-faq/379003486/ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-books-frequently-asked-... [2] http://i-u2665-cabbages.blogspot.fr/2009/12/circumventing-barnes-noble-drm-for-epub.html http://i-u2665-cabbages.blogspot.fr/2009/12/circumventing-ba...
    - epochwolf 14y ago
      The credit card number is the decryption key. The DeDRM tools for Calibre only require the credit card you used to purchase the book. In contrast, Amazon encryption only requires the serial number for the Kindle you are pulling the books off of.
- hullo 14y ago
  All this theoretical user needs to do is update their credit card details in their account. Any credit card will do, whether it's the original with a new date or a different one.

thinkling 14y ago

I don't doubt that Adobe DRM may be awfl, but when the customer isn't allowed to download the book, how does the DRM implementation enter into it? The DRM (as embedded in the ebook files) isn't in play here.

Samuel3407 14y ago
I discoveried some nice article to help you resolve this problem: Remove drm from adobe: http://www.epubsoft.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-adobe.html http://www.epubsoft.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-adobe.html How to share nook books: http://www.epubsoft.com/how-to-share-nook-books-with-my-friends.html http://www.epubsoft.com/how-to-share-nook-books-with-my-frie...
dansingerman 14y ago
The default Adobe DRM implementation requires that you need an Adobe ID (i.e. an account with Adobe) to access the book. (DRM licences are against Adobe accounts) The bigger players who use Adobe DRM (Like B&N) of course don't want this, so there are alternative schemes where you can use a token to represent the user that is not the Adobe ID. In the B&N case, I believe that token is based on the credit card details. You also only download the actual encrypted epub after the DRM licence has been applied. (The initial download is a small XML file which your Adobe RMSDK app uses to decide if you have access to the ebook) ergo, no valid credit card, no valid account to unlock DRM, and get access to the actual content file.
- thinkling 14y ago
  Ah, the credit card number is part of the encryption/decryption key [1]. Since it seems unlikely that the Nook decrypts the book once and stores a decrypted copy, the Nook also must store the credit card number--or hopefully a hashed version of it. Apparently so [2]. [1] "I cannot unlock my books" at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-books-frequently-asked-questions-faq/379003486/ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-books-frequently-asked-... [2] http://i-u2665-cabbages.blogspot.fr/2009/12/circumventing-barnes-noble-drm-for-epub.html http://i-u2665-cabbages.blogspot.fr/2009/12/circumventing-ba...
  - epochwolf 14y ago
    The credit card number is the decryption key. The DeDRM tools for Calibre only require the credit card you used to purchase the book. In contrast, Amazon encryption only requires the serial number for the Kindle you are pulling the books off of.
hullo 14y ago
All this theoretical user needs to do is update their credit card details in their account. Any credit card will do, whether it's the original with a new date or a different one.