[elug] Linux and the Public Library

[James]

This is due to the DRM on the audio, there is none on linux. People have
been having problems with this on linux for a long time (see: Dvds
(decrypted via libcss2), Blurays (AAC and key signed), Netflix
(Silverlight),etc...)

DRM does not prevent piracy, it punishes the purchaser.

On Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 3:14 PM, Brent <brent-hughes at shaw.ca> wrote:

>
>
> -------- Original Message --------  Subject: [elug] Linux and the Public
> Library  Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:07:26 -0600  From: Brent
> <brent-hughes at shaw.ca> <brent-hughes at shaw.ca>  Reply-To: elug at linux.ab.ca  To:
> elug at linux.ab.ca
>
> Hello all,
>
> I've run into a situation that is really frustrating to me and perhaps to
> others, most notably those with visual impairments. I am looking for some
> support on this issue from other Linux users.
>
> I recently bought an ereader, a Pocketbook 602, which is a fabulous device
> and it has once more opened the world of books to me. It supports a very
> board range of formats and most importantly, to me anyway , it has the SVOX
> text to speech engine.  The Pocketbook also plays mp3 audio which is for
> spoken word books.
>
> The Edmonton Public Library serves up digital content that consists of epub
> materials, pdf, mp3 and WMA audio books. Epub and pdf are content managed
> through Adobe's Digital Editions which monitors the DRM and expiry dates on
> loaned materials. Digital Editions runs under WINE smoothly. Audio books,
> mp3 and WMA, are content managed through proprietary software called
> Overdrive Media Console. Overdrive is ported for Windows, Android and Mac
> operating systems but not under Linux, any flavour. It won't install under
> WINE at all and therefore over two thirds of the digital files are
> unavailable to users of Linux as the .odm wrapper (containing the download
> info and borrowing license) cannot be used by anything other than Overdrive.
>
>
> To me, this is unacceptable.
>
> I know I am but one user out of thousands but I cannot use Windows or Mac
> without considerable costs associated with accessibility issues. Most if not
> all accessibility solutions under Windows or Mac are expensive closed
> systems requiring subsidies from provincial governments or from private
> charities. Vendors of these solutions know that the end user is not the
> payee and they milk this situation for all it is worth and trust me it is
> worth a lot.
>
> I live on a disability pension and as a result I cannot afford these
> solutions and subsidies are strictly rationed as demand is very high and
> funds are restricted. Being resourceful I took to the open source world and
> now get along very well at little or no cost.
>
> What I need is leverage. One guy is not leverage.
>
> I need others to express support for a Linux port of Overdrive or perhaps
> an on line converter tool to allow for the download of audiobooks from
> Overdrive.
>
> Being cut off from the printed word, regardless of how it is delivered, is
> a difficult thing to deal with. You can't read what everyone takes for
> granted. Your information is incomplete and your perceptions are hampered by
> a lack of information. It's very hard to stay informed or even entertained
> with a nice piece of fiction if you are unable to access the materials.
>
> Please, if you are wiling, drop a note to Overdrive (support at overdrive.com)
> and let them know how you feel. I have contacted the library and my
> councilman about this issue and I would appreciate it if you would do the
> same.  I believe that if enough of us speak up we can get Overdrive to
> support a Linux app that will allow me and others in the same boat to avail
> themselves of a publicly funded resource.
>
> If you can help, thank you very much. If you don't think this is an issue,
> then thanks for reading this far, but please reconsider as it is very
> important.
>
> Brent
>
>
> --
> ubuntu-ca mailing list
> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>
>


-- 
外に遊びに行こう！
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