Oh, Amazon. Just a couple weeks after the
Authors Guild's overzealous copyright-maximalist stance forced the bookseller to
modify the Kindle 2's text to speech feature, the company's lawyers have had a fit of irony and sent out a DMCA takedown request to MobileRead, claiming that the site's links to a Python script that enables Kindle owners to shop at Mobipocket-format ebook sites constitutes circumvention of the Kindle's DRM. There's all kinds of corporate-lawyer idiocy at play here: MobileRead was just linking out to another site hosting the script, which can't actually be used to break Kindle DRM, and the only people using it are the people who want to
buy more books -- not exactly the sort of customers you'd want to piss off. Amazon's sole motivation here seems to be the fear that people might buy Kindle content from somewhere besides Amazon, and it appears to be using copyright law to try and prevent that. Another corporation driven mad with DRM power? Say it ain't so.
[Via
TechDirt]
posted Mar 13th 2009 4:48PM
sweet, sweet hypocrisy.
oh the irony. I was personally a victim of Amazon's scams:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/09/06/amazon_makes_regular_customers_pay/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/11/06/amazon_rips_off_regular_customers/
Meh, not a big deal to me....as long as they're working on making "BIRTH CONTROL IS SINFUL IN THE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGES and also ROBBING GOD OF PRIESTHOOD CHILDREN!!" available on Kindle.
meh. I'm still waiting for "How to rape and get away with it, 2nd edition" for my K2, since I can't exactly have the paperback laying around.
I'm downranking you because your name is CancerJobs. That's just tasteless.
What if their name stems from the fact that they works for/are an employment agency for cancer research institutions?
POOP!
SHIT
He called the shit poop!
actions like these, makes one wonder if the lawyers have a part time job at Mc. Donalds ...
why, because these lawsuits are french fryvolous? eheheh..ehhh..yeah.
bandigolo, +(-1)
Amazon is about to kindle its Kindle down the hill with this lameous move. Is that even a word?
Yeah, it would be a shame if Amazon had to compete on price rather than just making sure that Kindle users are locked in to Amazon eBooks and letting the profits roll in.
Amazon is desperate for the Kindle to be the eBook equivalent of the iPod. What they need to remember is that, while Apple made sure that the iTunes store would only work with iPods, they didn't restrict iPod/iTunes users to iTMS content only. They ensured that users could still listen to their MP3s, and that they could still rip their own CDs.
Amazon needs to figure out that Apple didn't make the iPod the benchmark for PMP success by making it difficult or inconvenient to put music from multiple sources on the device. If Amazon wants to make the Kindle the eBook reader to beat, they need to follow Apple's lead. Otherwise, they might find themselves clinging to a sinking ship when someone else releases a cheaper eBook reader that happily accepts content from a large selection of content providers.
Agreed. To me the thing that makes the Kindle most attractive (although I probably wouldn't buy one) is the ability to purchase content from the device, where ever you happen to be.
It seems to me that Apple is the only competitor positioned to go head-to-head with Amazon in the e-book market. They have a proven infrastructure (iTunes store), they have the desktop software (iTunes, so easy my mom can use it, which is important), they have the mobile software (mobile OS X). All they lack is a book reader device, which rumor has it they are working diligently on.
Using the iPod model as an example, what Apple does is identify a market they want to play in (MP3 players), look at the competition (Rio, etc.) and figure out how to structure it to sell more and maximize profit. Like the iPod/iTunes eco-system or not, only a fool would claim that it is not a successful model. If Apple chooses to enter this market, they will give Amazon some stiff competition, assuming they create the right device at the right price, say just under $400, which seems to be working for Amazon...
@ Craig J
What about MobiReader (it's mentioned in the article) its been about for a while and works with many phones, pdas.
I use it with a 5 year old iPaq and it's great.
I don't buy music form iTunes i certainly would never buy ebooks.
Amazon is pulling an Apple on this one, If I buy a piece of hardware (not rent) then I will do whatever I please with it screw DMCAs if you buy something it's yours.
The point I was making (keeping in mind that I don't buy content from iTunes either) is that Apple, amongst all potential competitors is uniquely positioned to leverage their infrastructure to compete with Amazon in a head-to-head fashion. No one can deny that Apple (again, whether you like them or not, or whether you personally purchase from them or not) has an incredible successful model for the sales and distribution of electronic media in the iTunes / iPhone / iPod ecosystem. All they lack is a reader device which they clearly have the technology to create.
I actually buy my MP3 files on Amazon these days as they are both cheaper than iTunes, don't have DRM, and actually seem to carry more music. in a lot of ways I think Amazon is just better at selling stuff and I do not see Apple being to upstage Amazon in the book market.
@required - iTunes Plus is DRM free.
It's like Apple making sure ipod only plays itunes.
Isn't this kind of similar to how Mr. Jobs et al. wants you to only purchase apps from the App Store only? or even how they try to convince ETF that jailbreaking your own "paid" for iPhone is totally illegal?
The fruit company plays dirty games..especially when all of a sudden all kinds of browsers and apps that didn't or wouldn't have made it into the App Store started jumping in....ALL in the name of App Store standards and requirements....and ALL just to prove that they're transparent with the app approval and acceptance process.....
Amazon is about to kindle its Kindle 2 the fast and the furious way... as this will actually make lots and lots of hacking possible.
@Major4Play
You do what you can to stop them, they'll do what they can to stop you. I don't know how Kindles interface with computers, but I'm sure we'll see a kind of "jailbreak" that lets you play all your ebooks with the robot reader, and view anything from any website.
You, however, do not have much power over how Amazon decides to program the software updates in the future.
From www.mobileread.com:
"We would like to remind you to apply common sense when using the private message system, and not to use it for sharing information how to obtain or use kindlepid.py. We stress that we respect your privacy and that we do not monitor private messages."
I wonder why he would point that out in the last sentence.
Yeah, he kept saying 'kindlepid.py' again and again. Google it and you've got it. Has Amazon NOT done this, a lot few people would know about it.
As for, "If people buy Kindles and then purchase all of their books from another source then Amazon will lose money. That's simply bad business, so it makes total sense that they'd do this."--Only in the sense that they try to twist the law to prevent people from using something they OWN. They took a chance in selling something at a potential loss in hopes to make back their money with peripheral sales, they failed. It doesn't mean they are protect by law.
Did i over look Nilay's patented or should i say copy righted disclaimer, say it ain't so, First the Fat Boys break up, now this!!
The fat boys broke up!? what!!?
If Nilay dropped it then he did himself a favor. That became unfunny after the 2nd one. Sooooo 2008
Nilay isn't practicing law anymore, so he doesn't have to include the awesome disclaimers anymore.
Is it still worth $349 ?
at this point, with all the features that have been removed,... the price may drop
but i'd be scared to order one, and receive a mere rim on blank paper ...
was it ever worth $349?
The Kindle costs Amazon money to maintain as they supply a free download infrastructure. The reason they can supply this service for free is due to the money they make on their eBook sales. If people buy Kindles and then purchase all of their books from another source then Amazon will lose money. That's simply bad business, so it makes total sense that they'd do this. What I'd prefer is to lose the free service. I'd rather be charged for my wireless connection (or opt out) and be able to purchase my books from any vendor.
The eBook reader will only be embraced by the masses once any reader can read an eBook from any vendor (I'm not saying DRM free, although that is one method to achieve this)
I could almost believe you if Apple hadn't made a gadillion dollars doing exactly the opposite!
"If people buy Kindles and then purchase all of their books from another source Amazon will lose money."
People don't have to buy at the iTunes store, yet Apple is not losing money.
Am I wrong in thinking text files are pretty much on the small side of digital files? I mean are we to believe it costs them lots of money to deliver these ebooks?
Yes, but Apple doesn't provide content storage and a mobile infrastructure use deal (That's the really important part, it's an expensive deal), along with unlimited mobile data to people who don't play a fee for it, only paying for the device and any books they buy. Apple only provides the iTunes music content for people who pay and the iPhone's mobile internet is off AT&T's back and has a subscription.
It's not the same.
Kindle has a text only webbrowser so it is a bit moot to go behind "We pay your connection, you can only use our store" facade.
What's more kindle's price is pretty high compared to what it costs to make. I think they have made a deal with sprint to get netconnection by a one time purchace per device instead of monthly payments.
And if amazon thinks its being screwed for net when people go to other shops with kindle there's a clause in contract that allows it to charge from nettraffic.
That's why I'm glad I bought the Sony PRS-700 (nad the 505 before that). OK, so I don't get wireless, but then I don't need it. Also I can download books from where ever I want. Looks better too IMHO.
Does the kindle support formats from Project Gutenberg? I just got all of their books (11,000 plus of them) via a torrent.
Understand Amazon have to protect their investment and finance their subsidy of the wireless service, but with E-books on Amazon costing pretty much the same as a paperback, Kindle owners are going to end up spending many times what the hardware cost them.
"Does the kindle support formats from Project Gutenberg?"
Yes, it does. It also supports the better formatted versions on Feedbooks.com. Actually, the Kindle supports ebooks in Mobi, PRC, TXT formats available from several vendors and Amazon provides services to convert DOC, HTML, and PDF to Kindle.
They don't block you from getting ebooks form other vendors. That is part of why this move is more than a little hard to understand. There was no actual circumvention of the Amazon book's DRM. It only made the Kindle more useful to its owners. I like Amazon and love my Kindle, but this move leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Amazon is simply being stupid here.
So reading the letter above...if I am using a first-gen kindle, I'm in the clear right?! I mean they are only worrying about folks using kindlepid.py on kindle 2s? That's just dumb!
With Amazon's BS moves, why even bother with Kindle when you can just get Book? http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2009/20090309.jpg
I almost cared about this, but then I remembered that I was never dumb enough to buy their DRM-laden crapware, and I never will be. I have discovered a hotbed of piracy in my town, all sanctioned by the government, where all the books are FREE! It's called a library. I'm going there now.
I'd like to know how many times Engadget has ever used the phrase, "Say it ain't so."
Since MobileRead is apparently encouraging Kindle owners to break Amazon's DRM strategy to encourage MobileRead's own sales, I have a hard time finding fault with Amazon for protecting their own interests. As a customer I'm not happy with it; and if I were Amazon, I'd probably be stupid *not* to file a DMCA complaint with MobileRead.
It may seem silly or stupid to us as customers, and it's important to remember that we're only looking at part of the picture here. For Amazon, it's about protecting the business model that makes the wireless delivery of content possible. If you don't like Amazon's terms, buy another device with different terms or no terms.
Hmm, looks like MobileRead isn't actually selling ebooks (unless I've missed something on their site). I don't know if a court would actually see this as a DMCA violation or not. Either way, looks like MobileRead took the info down from their website to preserve their relations with Amazon.
@David, MobileRead does not *sell* anything. It's just a community website featuring several helpful forums.
"to break Amazon's DRM strategy"
This argument depends on defining circumvention to include *adding* DRM. Every case of circumvention so far has involved *removing* DRM.
Did anyone else notice that the letter asks (demands) that they remove links to _ANTI_Circumvention technologies, and nothing about technologies used to circumvent the DRM. I guess they DON'T want people to block or disable circumvention utilities.
He Who Thought A Law Firm Would Be More Careful About Their Wording.
Great point :)
I'm tired of corporations walking all over us. We're buying your shit. What we do with it is our business, so F*** off if you don't like it. Seriously, next thing you know Toyota will sue me for taking the badges off my Prius.
This is publicity for the circumvent software.
Most people would of never known the software existed, now that they are making a fuss, everyone is going to know to look for it.
And we all know once something hits the internet, you can never truely get it off 100%.
Interesting that the firm that sent that letter was blacked out, embarrassed to represent amazon?
I doubt that the language of the letter comes from a ignorance but suspect that it is to provoke fear of exaggerated claims against mobileread and also to present a better public image. It certainly puts mobileread on the defensive. Claiming "you are screwing us and content owners over" seems much more appealing that saying "your taking business away from us"
Fuck amazone