Re: by Scot Colford

[the zak]

> by Scot Colford
> http://dbinfo.bpl.org/dbblog/
>
>
>
> > Digital Rights Management
>
> >    February 7th, 2008 by Scot Colford
>
> >    We often get questions about why people can't
> >    download OverDrive audio books or video to their
> >    iPods. Or sometimes, users are unhappy that they
> >    cannot preserve that downloaded material on their
> >    computers forever. Well, the Boston Public Library
> >    does not necessarily own the material you download --
> >    we license it. Part of the agreement that allows us
> >    to license the material is the use of Digital Rights
> >    Managment (DRM). DRM is a software add-on that
> >    prevents digital files from being copied and
> >    redistributed, just like the software that prevents
> >    you from copying a DVD or a commercial VHS tape.
>
> >    Listen, we all know that DRM is annoying at best. But
> >    we're able to offer content that would not be
> >    available to anyone in digital format otherwise
> >    because publishers feel comfortable with DRM. I hope
> >    that changes, but until then, we'll keep trying to
> >    offer the best content to the most people.
>
> >    Here's the official BPL response. Rest assured that
> >    it was written by a real human being who knows what
> >    he's talking about, namely me:
>
> >      One of the most popular new services provided by
> >      the Boston Public Library is OverDrive, a
> >      vendor-supplied lending system for electronic
> >      books, audio books, music, and videos. Digital
> >      Library Reserve, the vendor from whom we license
> >      this content has secured thousands of popular,
> >      high-quality titles from many major publishers
> >      under the condition that digital rights management
> >      (DRM) measures are taken to ensure that the
> >      material cannot be redistributed. Furthermore, the
> >      specific DRM schema used on OverDrive titles allow
> >      material to circulate for distinct periods of
> >      time, permitting the library to honor its
> >      licensing contract and to provide a service
> >      paralleling the loan of physical material. No
> >      personal patron information is shared with
> >      OverDrive or other third-parties in the download
> >      or DRM process. Please see the BPL privacy policy
> >      for more information
> >      http://www.bpl.org/general/policies/privacy.htm
>
> >      While we are well aware of the frustration DRM
> >      schema can cause end users, we feel that the high
> >      numbers of use (nearly 100,000 downloads since
> >      September, 2005) send a strong signal that our
> >      customers want access to the material OverDrive
> >      provides. For many years, the BPL has offered
> >      material in a variety of formats that require
> >      specific hardware and/or contain copy-protection
> >      technologies (DVDs, Macrovision-protected VHS
> >      tapes), but we've never been asked to discontinue
> >      circulation of this material because not every
> >      customer has the ability to use them.
>
> >      Almost all of the titles available through
> >      OverDrive are also available in other formats.
> >      Customers who are unable to use DRM-protected
> >      content can certainly access the same content via
> >      CDs, DVDs, print books, and magnetic media. We
> >      also provide links to several other sources for
> >      digital eBooks, audio, and video that are in the
> >      public domain, and therefore do not require DRM.
>
> >      Boston Public Library is committed to providing
> >      free access to community-owned resources and will
> >      continue to search for partners who can provide
> >      material to the most number of users possible.
>
> >      Scot Colford
> >      Applications Manager
> >      Boston Public Library
> >      scolford at bpl.org
>
> >    Posted in General
>
> http://dbinfo.bpl.org/dbblog/
>
> Introducing DRM changes the line between what is your own, and
> what belongs to the Englobulators.

| Introducing DRM changes the line between what is your own, and
| what belongs to the Englobulators.
|
| The issue is: the Library, by using "DRM", supports the general
| principle that we should be under surveillance and that our
| computers should be under the control of the Englobulators at all
| times.  No, we should not be under constant surveillance and no,
| we should keep our computers our own.  That means no DRM.  None
| whatsoever.
|
| Don, you may quote this, with attribution, and a warning that I
| cannot, this month, enter the public conversation.
|
| oo--JS.