[Jeff]

As an independent software developer and author, I sincerely appreciate Harvey taking his position.

 

[Jeff]

My first computer was a MITS Z-80 kit that I used to test a new language called BASIC that this kid named Bill was writing on a teletype every night. I progressed to a Timex, Commodore-64, TRS-80 and… You don’t really want to hear this do you?

So back on topic: Harvey, it looks like everybody agrees with you. 

 

[Jeff]

Why are the rules so messed up for digital books? Shouldn't there be a way to move the file from my devices to someone else's.

What you say makes perfect sense. BUT. The problem is that there's no tangible object to hand off like there is with a book. Digital media is just a bunch of zeros and ones.

DRM protected books are very much like DRM protected software insofar as the buyer is granted a license of sorts to read the book. In order to transfer ownership there would need to be some vehicle for transferring license.

Jeff

 

[Jeff]

Many software companies are charging for technical support as a method of compensating for the loss of sales revenue caused by piracy. I can’t think of an equivalent remedy for digital book publishers.

The other big difference is that I know the names of everyone who legally owns my software but I have no idea who buys my books.

Jeff

 

[Jeff]

I suppose it depends upon one’s point of view. Those of us who feed our families by selling digital media tend to become disheartened when our intellectual property ends up on a Warez web site.

Jeff