johnsu01: [DefectiveByDesign] Action Alert

johnsu01 (

johnsu01) wrote,
@ 2008-02-06 22:40:00

Entry tags:

boston, bpl, drm

[DefectiveByDesign] Action Alert - libraries: kick DRM out!
DefectiveByDesign.org has announced an action against libraries that support DRM on their collections. Boston locals can join them this Saturday from 1pm to 3pm at the Boston Public Library's main branch, and non-locals are encouraged to stage an action against their own library if it's using DRM.

read more | digg story

Update 2008-02-07: A pretty spirited discussion going on about the event in the b0st0n community.

(Post a new comment)

Let's talk

scolford
2008-02-08 12:12 am UTC (link)

Hi, John. Don Saklad passed on your post to me so I'd be aware of your visit to the BPL this Saturday. I've spoken with Don at length about the use of DRM in our subscription OverDrive service, but I see that he's never included any of the information we've exchanged on any of his many blogs.

Listen, we all know that DRM is annoying at best. But we're able to offer content that would not be available to anyone in digital format otherwise because publishers feel comfortable with DRM. I hope that changes, but until then, I'm not sure what you're asking us to do.

Here's the official response. Rest assured that it was written by a real human being who knows what he's talking about, namely me:

One of the most popular new services provided by the Boston Public Library is OverDrive, a vendor-supplied lending system for electronic books, audio books, music, and videos. Digital Library Reserve, the vendor from whom we license this content has secured thousands of popular, high-quality titles from many major publishers under the condition that digital rights management (DRM) measures are taken to ensure that the material cannot be redistributed. Furthermore, the specific DRM schema used on OverDrive titles allow material to circulate for distinct periods of time, permitting the library to honor its licensing contract and to provide a service paralleling the loan of physical material. No personal patron information is shared with OverDrive or other third-parties in the download or DRM process. Please see the BPL privacy policy for more information. (http://www.bpl.org/general/policies/privacy.htm)

While we are well aware of the frustration DRM schema can cause end users, we feel that the high numbers of use (nearly 100,000 downloads since September, 2005) send a strong signal that our customers want access to the material OverDrive provides. For many years, the BPL has offered material in a variety of formats that require specific hardware and/or contain copy-protection technologies (DVDs, Macrovision-protected VHS tapes), but we’ve never been asked to discontinue circulation of this material because not every customer has the ability to use them.

Almost all of the titles available through OverDrive are also available in other formats. Customers who are unable to use DRM-protected content can certainly access the same content via CDs, DVDs, print books, and magnetic media. We also provide links to several other sources for digital eBooks, audio, and video that are in the public domain, and therefore do not require DRM.

Boston Public Library is committed to providing free access to community-owned resources and will continue to search for partners who can provide material to the most number of users possible.

Scot Colford
Applications Manager
Boston Public Library
scolford@bpl.org

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: Let's talk johnsu01 2008-02-08 12:19 am UTC (link)
	Thanks Scott, I do appreciate the reply. Do you mind if we share your reply and our thoughts about it at http://defectivebydesign.org? Our goal is definitely to have a conversation about this and see what can be done. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Let's talk scolford 2008-02-08 12:23 am UTC (link)
	Please do! I posted a comment to Joshua's entry there but it's awaiting moderation... We definitely want to have a conversation about this. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Let's talk johnsu01 2008-02-08 12:32 am UTC (link)
	Thanks! I'll talk through your reply with my colleagues tomorrow and we'll get in touch with you. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Let's talk scolford 2008-02-08 04:21 am UTC (link)
	Awesome. You know where to find me! :-) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management dsaklad 2008-02-09 04:32 am UTC (link)
	See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Introducing DRM changes the line between what is your own, and what belongs to the Englobulators. dsaklad 2008-02-10 08:34 am UTC (link)
	Introducing DRM changes the line between what is your own, and what belongs to the Englobulators. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Introducing DRM changes the line between what is your own, and what belongs to the Englobulators (Anonymous) 2008-02-10 04:29 pm UTC (link)
	libraries just need to figure out a way to exist with digital media that doesn't require you to surrender your freedom. do you have any ideas, Don? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Around the web where are there more free audiobooks? dsaklad 2008-02-10 04:47 pm UTC (link)
	Around the web where are there more free audiobooks?... besides the listings at http://bpl.org/electronic/ebook.asp Let's make available more listings of weblinks where there are free audiobooks! (Reply to this)(Parent)

	Re: Introducing DRM changes the line between what is your own, and what belongs to the Englobulators baughj 2008-02-10 07:20 pm UTC (link)
	...What the hell is an Englobulator? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Introducing DRM changes the line between what is your own, and what belongs to the Englobulators dsaklad 2008-02-10 07:31 pm UTC (link)
	Scroll down for the several references of englobulator at http://crackmonkey.org/pipermail/crackmonkey/2003-July/036446.html see also http://www.google.com/search?q=englobulator (Reply to this)(Parent)

Re: Let's talk

snert
2008-02-10 02:41 pm UTC (link)

Ok, then here's your first request to discontinue circulation of material that isn't playable by readily-licensable and generally available means. (Note that I'm specifically not going to make a hard-line argument against all DRM here.)

Cassettes and CDs have no DRM, and Macrovision-protected DVDs and videotapes use DRM that any manufacturer of playback equipment can license and deploy. The practical result is that every player of cassettes, CDs, videotapes, and DVDs can play every respective piece of media. This is a very good thing; I'd hope the notion of spending public funds on CDs that could be played only on (say) Panasonic CD players, or books that could be read only by using proprietary "Bausch & Lomb reading glasses", would be greeted with derision.

But when it comes to downloadable media it's a different story: Apple's FairPlay DRM has been licensed in only a very few cases and Microsoft has already produced two different incompatible DRM schemes, both of which are available only on computers running Microsoft's own operating system.

The BPL and other libraries and distributors of media need to pressure their suppliers to provide solutions that use software standards in the same way that Internet and web standards allow use by all computer users - not doing so prevents public access and perpetuates for-profit monopolies.

So, yes - OverDrive should be warned that their platform-specific solution is unacceptable and its use will be terminated unless they commit to opening their product to general availability.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	Thanks, Don. scolford 2008-02-09 02:46 pm UTC (link)
	I've read the Wikipedia article. And many other articles about DRM. Hope to see you today in Copley Square! (Reply to this)

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