Why our audiobooks will stay DRM free
DRM is dagnasty evil. Oh, and it doesn’t work. We don’t use DRM protection on any file you download from Podiobooks.com, and we never will. It’s a hindrance to well meaning people, that is all. It’s worthlessness has recently been recognized by the music industry, but leading audiobook producers will continue to proceed with their heads in the sand.
But rather than hear me rant on this, how about I let Cory Doctorow do it for me? Repurposed in its entirety from BoingBoing.net:
Apple dropping DRM from music in iTunes, keeping DRM for audiobooks, video
Posted by Cory Doctorow, January 6, 2009 11:38 AM
Looks like Apple’s going to drop the DRM on the music in the iTunes store — but there’s no indication that the DRM that’s too evil to be borne for music will be likewise dropped from audiobooks and video. Right now, Apple will only sell audiobooks from Audible — and Audible will only sell audiobooks with DRM (even if the author and publisher don’t want it). I don’t get it — if DRM is so foul that it can’t be borne when it comes to music sales, why is it acceptable for other kinds of media in the iTunes store? And if Apple is so committed to getting rid of DRM, why did it renew Audible’s exclusive, DRM-only audiobook deal, after Steve Jobs said that he wanted to get the DRM out of the iTunes store? And as the single largest shareholder in Disney, you’d think The Steve could get someone there to consider selling videos without DRM?
(From the BBC) “Over the last six years songs have been $0.99 [79p]. Music companies want more flexibility. Starting today, 8 million songs will be DRM free and by the end of this quarter, all 10 million songs will be DRM free,” he told the crowd.
Apple has also revised its pricing structure, offering a two-tier system with songs available for $0.69 and $1.29. Prices will vary slightly in the UK.
At present, the firm has a one-price-fits-all strategy - currently 79p per track - with no subscription fee.
The new model will have a varied pricing structure, with what the company calls “better quality iTunes Plus” costing more.
[end of repurposed story]
Well said, Cory. This is a bone headed move. And one that will ultimately be righted. But until that time, enjoy your purchases. Just make damned sure you enjoy them on a single device.
Cory is the author of Eastern Standard Tribe here on Podiobooks.com, and piles of other stuff. He rocks.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
This is one of the reasons I don’t use Audible.
The other being that the books I want to listen to aren’t there!
January 7th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I’m a podiobooks fan but I’m also an audible.com subscriber. The reason subscribe to audible is that it adds value by creating chapter marks and my mp3player can bookmark the section I’m at. They could of course could do that and not be DRM’d or at a very minimum enable us to transfer the DRM license to another; that would be the digital equivalent of what we do when we sell or give away our physical books. But of course authors and publishers have for a long time wanted the second-hand market to die since they don’t see a penny from it. DRM whether its audio or something like kindle or palmreader let’s them accomplish that dream.
So in short; audible has its value and for the price I spend less on books and actually get more read this way than I would had been buying them physically. Most non-fiction though I still buy physically for its reference ability. Nothing beats the flip-through convenience of finding references.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
No, DRM only gives them the illusion that they’ve accomplished that dream. The only people inconvenienced by DRM are legit users.
And I don’t think we disagree about the value of paying for books of any kind — digital download, print copies, Kindle editions… whatever. I buy lots of books. I’d buy audiobooks if they weren’t a) of terrible file quality and b) defective by design by pointless DRM. They have two big problems to solve. Oh, and it’s 2009. Both problems were solved in the last five years. They just need to wake up to that fact.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Amen to that Evo, I just figured it was obvious that the DRM method is how they want to achieve that dream through the power they think they have, IOW in their eyes they’ve achieved it. I’ll try to be more specific in the future.
However, as we here know the publishing companies do not have the power anyway. Too many of them have blundered by turning down the JK Rowlings and Siglers out there. Online self-publishing and podcasting has busted their domination wide-open. Scott Sigler and many others after him have shown the power of new media by going directly to the people. When we like it we actually do buy it either directly through donation or it enables that author to sell by physical means now that a fanbase has been built. Are they all stellar? Of course not, but that’s the fun of it. I can tell you right now that I’d have never ever purchased Karen Moning’s “Darkfever”, in a bookstore it would likely be shoved in the section with the teeny-bopper love stories disguised as vamp. books where I wouldn’t be caught dead. But because it was here I tried it out - and then I couldn’t quit listening but went on an all weekend listening spree. I’m going to buy all of the fever series now.
So we’re more or less on the same page, I’m just willing to accept DRM where I perceive enough of a value and want.
Rob
January 9th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I want to reflect on the statements Evo made. I truly enjoy the free podcast novels available here and from other sites, but I to buy books and sometimes I buy books that I have already listened to (like the one I bought on Dec 30th :).
I have also made a few donations to authors via this site, not many but a few.
So why do I do this. I do it becasue even though I love free content, I also recognize that helping the author’s pay the bills will facilitate keeping that free content coming. I do not think I am alone on this. True, many people pirate and will not pay for anything, but those people are going to pirate regardless of what the prublishers try to do to stop them.
When I think about music, I realize that in my life time I have bought every Jethro Tull album 3 or four times - first in vinal, then casset, then CD, then iTunes. I have paid the artist four times, I think I have the moral right to store and copy that music to the next generation of playback technology.
So what about that $30 I spent for the Audio book Tale of Two Cities . Heck, I could have checked out the CD at the library and ripped it, but I didn’t. I paid for it becasue I understand the need to support the industries that produce this content. - Haven’t I paid my dues? Why is my $30 ToTC DRM? Guess what - I am not going to buy it again. Next time I will ripp it - and I won’t feel guilty.
OK, I’m done venting.
January 10th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
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