Here’s an interesting post by Paul Biba, editor of the Teleread blog. He says, among other things:
The Nook can’t read Sony DRM and Sony can’t read Nook DRM and, of course, the Kindle can’t read either and “either” can’t read Kindle DRM and now Apple is saying it will have its own DRM that Kindle and Sony and Nook can’t read. I’m sure it’s all very clear to you now, especially since they are, almost, all using the new “industry standard” Epub.
Of course everybody, except Amazon, is practically lying through their teeth by telling consumers that they are using the so-called “standard” Epub format and how this is a great benefit to everybody. Hogwash! No matter how much you dislike Amazon’s DRM at least you know where you stand with it.
I’m beginning to think that we’d be better off without Epub.
The issues involved in Digital Rights Management are important and multi-faceted, and Paul is right in suggesting that merely sticking a misleading “Epub” sticker on the front cover of an ebook accomplishes nothing.
