DRM

[Chrysoula]

Why do you differentiate between 'being passed around' and 'pirated'? I promise you the big guys don't.

And, as a reference point, if you'd put DRM on and people wanted to pass it around, it'd be the work of about 15 seconds to strip the DRM off.

That said, that URL is all over the internet, and not locked in any fashion. You link to it on to what I assume is your blog (roofmanthespy.wordpress.com?) How do hits on that site match up? Can you see where most of the links on the audio website are coming from?

[Virginia]

It's sure a darn good thing that all I care about is the readership. DRM is a joke.
and I always thought bit torrent sites were like Somalian pirate ships, but now even they seem to be earning recognition, or validation or legitimization or something.

[A.G.]

I'm with Virginia.
Passed around is another way of saying "word of mouth". It increases readership. I can't see a time when I will ever see DRM as a good thing. It often masquerades as a way to prevent the consumer from having full use of a product. The more you try to control the consumer, the more they turn to pirate sites.

[Scott]

I don't have DRM enabled on my eBooks, but I sometimes wonder when I see refunds if a person isn't buying the novel, transferring it off their device, then getting their money back. I don't have that many refunds (in fact, sometimes a refund is accompanied by a borrow, which makes me think the person just bought on accident), so it doesn't bother me. But DRM would at least prevent the casual copy and return scenario.

I do know that if someone is determined enough they can remove the DRM protection. It's quite easy with the right tools.

[Richard]

For what it's worth, TOR, the scifi/fantasy division of Penguin just dropped DRM from all its titles. I think it will start a trend away from this kind of stuff.

[Virginia]

@Chrysoula. off topic but glad to see you. How did the. baby project work out? And your publication release ?