What does the future hold for DRM? Perhaps the future is already here! Devices such as the Kindle Reader can communicate back to servers if eBooks are being illegally shared. It is then up to the publishers/vendors (e.g. Amazon) to decide what to do. Could they remove the PDF? Yes, apparently, as detailed in one recent case (2009), Amazon remotely removed PDFs from customers' Kindle Readers (http://mashable.com/2009/07/17/amazon-kindle-1984/).
In parallel with the hardware producers firming up the DRM security, software publishers are also including functionality into their PDF publishing tools to include the ability to disable an eBook remotely if a customer uses fraudulent credit card details or is seeking a refund (two traditional means of obtaining PDFs at no cost). For most authors writing eBooks, protecting their PDFs through simple configuration of PDF creation software is an ideal solution.
These improvements in the eBook business may be arriving too late for the existing files available online (these do have copyright protection on their content; Just no technological way to safeguard them). Over the coming years, developments in copy protection via hardware and software solutions should make it even more convenient for eBook authors to get writing eBooks and securely selling them online.
Sociable
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
DRM Innovation For The EBook Business - Part 2
Historically, it has been software producers such as Adobe who pioneered the PDF file format for writing eBooks. Their software can be configured to constrain/restrict certain functionality of PDF readers. You may have seen this before where you receive a PDF book but are perhaps unable to copy/paste any of the text. It is possible to even restrict the user from printing out hard-copies of the document. This is DRM in action.
Most PDF creation applications now have this functionality (for example, Adobe Reader and Microsoft Reader). Microsoft added the options of imprinting PDF files with the purchaser's meta-data (information) to discourage the customer from sharing their PDF purchase and facilitate hunting down file sharers.
Most PDF creation applications now have this functionality (for example, Adobe Reader and Microsoft Reader). Microsoft added the options of imprinting PDF files with the purchaser's meta-data (information) to discourage the customer from sharing their PDF purchase and facilitate hunting down file sharers.
DRM Innovation For The EBook Business - Part 1
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is one area of publishing and the eBook business that should be of particular interest to any author who wishes to protect their written work when using digital formats.
DRM is a field of software and hardware technology that attempts to protect creative works in multiple formats (C.D.s, D.V.D.s, eBooks, etc.). DRM tries to block eBooks being shared or copied without your knowledge. Famously, music publishers were slow to protect their songs from online copying (e.g. from Napster) without the publishers benefiting financially.
In the eBook business, intellectual asset management was built in from the onset as eBooks are a product of the software industry rather than having grown out of regular book publishing sector. As a result, eBooks have used innovation from an early stage to protect the intellectual property within eBooks.
DRM is a field of software and hardware technology that attempts to protect creative works in multiple formats (C.D.s, D.V.D.s, eBooks, etc.). DRM tries to block eBooks being shared or copied without your knowledge. Famously, music publishers were slow to protect their songs from online copying (e.g. from Napster) without the publishers benefiting financially.
In the eBook business, intellectual asset management was built in from the onset as eBooks are a product of the software industry rather than having grown out of regular book publishing sector. As a result, eBooks have used innovation from an early stage to protect the intellectual property within eBooks.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Setting up your eBook Business - part 4 - Digital Download Management Tools
This is the independent way of publishing e-books that involves installing software on your own server to manage the shopping cart process, download link security, compiling mailing list information and communicating with purchasers (emailing them the secure links to the e-book download).
In this scenario, the author can compile a mailing list of customers and has the freedom to configure how secure the download links are, including how long the links are to be made available for.
After the software cost, the only other cost is the commission to the credit card processor and the sole operational overhead is the application set-up and handling refunds.
So which option is best? Each option has their benefits and constraints that will naturally suit specific author/publishers. If you intend selling many ebooks then running your own Download Management Tool is the ideal option to give you flexibility in marketing and control over mailing lists. If you have a single e-book for sale or do not wish to capture purchasers in a mailing list then using a third party vendor is the simplest option for you.
In this scenario, the author can compile a mailing list of customers and has the freedom to configure how secure the download links are, including how long the links are to be made available for.
After the software cost, the only other cost is the commission to the credit card processor and the sole operational overhead is the application set-up and handling refunds.
So which option is best? Each option has their benefits and constraints that will naturally suit specific author/publishers. If you intend selling many ebooks then running your own Download Management Tool is the ideal option to give you flexibility in marketing and control over mailing lists. If you have a single e-book for sale or do not wish to capture purchasers in a mailing list then using a third party vendor is the simplest option for you.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Setting up your eBook Business - part 3 - Password Protecting Public Folders On A Server
This old (rarely used) technique to distributing e-books entails creating a shared password protected folder on your server and copying your e-book to this folder (so it is available to the web). Once a customer purchases your book you simply send them the password and URL for the download.
One advantage of this is that there is no cost involved, except for your time, but you will still require shopping cart software to manage the purchase.
But a major setback to this technique is the weak security of freely distributing the password and URL with people who could then freely redistribute the details to others that could download the e-book.
One advantage of this is that there is no cost involved, except for your time, but you will still require shopping cart software to manage the purchase.
But a major setback to this technique is the weak security of freely distributing the password and URL with people who could then freely redistribute the details to others that could download the e-book.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Setting up your eBook Business - part 2 - Online Third Party Sellers
This is the most common scenario for selling e-books online and is a business model most people will be familiar with. The e-book author uploads their book to the vendor's site who manages the sales, marketing and primary promotion of the book in return for a sales commission.
The vendor looks after processing payments and dealing with the credit card companies/Paypal. In general terms, the author is allowed to provide a book description or synopsis but they have no control over their book's marketing on the vendor's site so their book may appear on a page surrounded by competing advertisements or competing books.
When a book is purchased from the site, the vendors is responsible for controlling if the book's download link has a time limit or if the number of downloads attempts is restricted (to protect it from being downloaded by several people).
On the downside, you cannot build up a membership listing of purchasers so you miss out on potential loyalty purchases. This could affect you if you intend publishing several eBooks and wish to build upon a customer base of previous customers.
The vendor looks after processing payments and dealing with the credit card companies/Paypal. In general terms, the author is allowed to provide a book description or synopsis but they have no control over their book's marketing on the vendor's site so their book may appear on a page surrounded by competing advertisements or competing books.
When a book is purchased from the site, the vendors is responsible for controlling if the book's download link has a time limit or if the number of downloads attempts is restricted (to protect it from being downloaded by several people).
On the downside, you cannot build up a membership listing of purchasers so you miss out on potential loyalty purchases. This could affect you if you intend publishing several eBooks and wish to build upon a customer base of previous customers.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Setting up your eBook Business - part 1
One of the greatest successes of the Internet has been how it has liberated authors to become the publishers of their own work through the use of digital e-books (a.k.a. EBook, electronic books).
The rise of e-books looks like it shall continue to rise as an increasing amount of hardware technology is released that can support the viewing of e-books (ebook readers, smart phones).
On the publishing side, an industry has developed to provide ways to publish your book to the net. This article will focus on the three options available for publishing your ebook.
The options each have control, security and cost implications. Some of these constraints can suit individual book author depending on the level of involvement they wish to have in the sales and download process.
The rise of e-books looks like it shall continue to rise as an increasing amount of hardware technology is released that can support the viewing of e-books (ebook readers, smart phones).
On the publishing side, an industry has developed to provide ways to publish your book to the net. This article will focus on the three options available for publishing your ebook.
The options each have control, security and cost implications. Some of these constraints can suit individual book author depending on the level of involvement they wish to have in the sales and download process.
Hi & Welcome!
Hi,
Welcome to my blog guide on the ebook business and all it entail. I’ll post articles, links and ideas about ways for the average person to get their books online and published (which, putting it simply, just means getting your e-book PDF available for purchase on the internet.
I’ve been writing and working in IT for many years so have built up a wealth of personal experience so hopefully have something valuable to offer the average author.
Please leave some comments or recommendations as I’m open to hearing about new techniques that may be new to me.
Rod
Welcome to my blog guide on the ebook business and all it entail. I’ll post articles, links and ideas about ways for the average person to get their books online and published (which, putting it simply, just means getting your e-book PDF available for purchase on the internet.
I’ve been writing and working in IT for many years so have built up a wealth of personal experience so hopefully have something valuable to offer the average author.
Please leave some comments or recommendations as I’m open to hearing about new techniques that may be new to me.
Rod
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