Comments on: Odd Trio Frees the Patent Database, Lulu to Start Offering DRM, and More http://thecommandline.net/2009/11/09/odd-trio-frees-the-patent-database-lulu-to-start-offering-drm-and-more/ Podcast and blog exploring digital citizenry as a creator and a consumer. Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:12:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Thomas Gideon http://thecommandline.net/2009/11/09/odd-trio-frees-the-patent-database-lulu-to-start-offering-drm-and-more/comment-page-1/#comment-3216 Thomas Gideon Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:26:56 +0000 http://thecommandline.net/2009/11/09/odd-trio-frees-the-patent-database-lulu-to-start-offering-drm-and-more/#comment-3216 I am sorry, but citing the author's choice is a thin rationale. His reasoning around physical books is tortured at best. Physical books also enabled the first sale rights that DRM denies to purchasers of electronic editions, plain and simple. He is effectively saying that the author's choice is more valid than the consumer's choice which is a dangerous position to pursue to its logical conclusion. I hate to burst the rest of his bubble about this cute physicality-as-crude-DRM anecdote--I can easily share the anecdotes about book pirates who at marginal cost can slice the spine of a book, drop it into a sheet feeder on a scanner and within hours have a digital copy that is just as cheap to spread as an original digital copy. If Bob wants to help authors succeed, why doesn't he work harder at bringing cost down instead of raising prices? What about other positive opportunities, to expand distribution even further or help lower the other barriers to success many authors who would use a POD service might encounter? DRM has yet to prove conclusively that it has any effect one way or the other on the success of a creator's work. Even if we look at this from a pure business perspective as Bob seems to be asking, DRM just looks like a distraction. Bob's attempt to decouple this from RedHat doesn't help, in fact, it has lessened my opinion of him. I don't doubt now that this is his thought process with regards to open source. We certainly have seen any number of companies espouse a similar view. More the fool me for thinking he supported openness for any reason other than business gain. At least I know where he is coming from now and can adjust my expectations accordingly. I am sorry, but citing the author’s choice is a thin rationale. His reasoning around physical books is tortured at best. Physical books also enabled the first sale rights that DRM denies to purchasers of electronic editions, plain and simple. He is effectively saying that the author’s choice is more valid than the consumer’s choice which is a dangerous position to pursue to its logical conclusion. I hate to burst the rest of his bubble about this cute physicality-as-crude-DRM anecdote–I can easily share the anecdotes about book pirates who at marginal cost can slice the spine of a book, drop it into a sheet feeder on a scanner and within hours have a digital copy that is just as cheap to spread as an original digital copy.

If Bob wants to help authors succeed, why doesn’t he work harder at bringing cost down instead of raising prices? What about other positive opportunities, to expand distribution even further or help lower the other barriers to success many authors who would use a POD service might encounter? DRM has yet to prove conclusively that it has any effect one way or the other on the success of a creator’s work. Even if we look at this from a pure business perspective as Bob seems to be asking, DRM just looks like a distraction.

Bob’s attempt to decouple this from RedHat doesn’t help, in fact, it has lessened my opinion of him. I don’t doubt now that this is his thought process with regards to open source. We certainly have seen any number of companies espouse a similar view. More the fool me for thinking he supported openness for any reason other than business gain. At least I know where he is coming from now and can adjust my expectations accordingly.

]]> By: Frank http://thecommandline.net/2009/11/09/odd-trio-frees-the-patent-database-lulu-to-start-offering-drm-and-more/comment-page-1/#comment-3215 Frank Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:15:52 +0000 http://thecommandline.net/2009/11/09/odd-trio-frees-the-patent-database-lulu-to-start-offering-drm-and-more/#comment-3215 Lulu CEO Bob Young's response to DRM debate: http://lulublog.com/2009/11/23/drm-debate-misses-important-point-—-the-goal-is-author-success/ Lulu CEO Bob Young’s response to DRM debate: http://lulublog.com/2009/11/23/drm-debate-misses-important-point-—-the-goal-is-author-success/

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