Digital Rights Management, or DRM, is specifically designed to control the use, modification, and distribution of any copyrighted material, and is now a common feature of everything from eBooks to music files.
While it's easy to understand why rights holders are interested in protecting their work, as a consumer, DRM is an extremely frustrating aspect of modern life.
In this article, we explain why removing DRM restrictions is important. Is DRM a threat to computer security? Is DRM a threat to computer security? Read More
The DRM issue is based on the ownership issue. End of owner:Netflix, Spotify and The Streaming Generation. of digital media. Read more . The music, movies, and books you buy from companies like Amazon aren't technically yours, they've just given you a license to use the content.
Put yourself in the shoes of an Amazon user, who had his Kindle library (and Amazon account) permanently deleted in 2012 for an alleged breach of terms. We don't know if he did anything wrong, but we do know that he had several hundred dollars out of his pocket. All of his beloved books were irrevocably gone, with no way to get them back..
This is what Amazon said in an email to her at the time:
The problem could have been completely avoided if she had removed the DRM restrictions.
Why? Because she could have backed up her files to her local machine. Amazon may still have deleted her account, but the content she spent so much money on would still be in her possession.
Ebooks use four different DRM schemes. They are:
Given the diversity of eBook publishers and eBook file formats, it's not surprising that there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.
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Caliber is a free and open source eBook library management application that is packed with useful features. For this process, you will need the Caliber and apprenticealf DRM removal plugins.
Please install the software and turn on the app for the first time. When prompted, select which folders contain your existing eBook purchases. If you don't have one yet, create one..
You will then be prompted to select your device. The Best E-Book Reader:7 Models Compared The Best E-Book Reader:7 Models Compared An e-book reader is a must-have for book lovers. You can carry thousands of books in your pocket and recharge them once a month. But what is the best ebook reader out there? Read more . The list includes all major manufacturers. Don't worry if you have more than one device, you can change this setting to switch between them later.
If you would like to be able to send eBooks from Caliber directly to your device, please fill out your associated emails on the next screen. For the purpose of the DRM removal process, you can skip this step.
Finally, click on Finish and the application will start.
Caliber supports a variety of plugins that perform many different functions. To remove the DRM, you need apprenticealf's DRM removal tool for eBooks . The latest version is available for download from GitHub.
Download the file and unzip its content. Now go back to Caliber and click the Preferences button icon in the top menu.
Click Plugins in the bottom row of the pop-up screen, then select Load plugin from file in the background in the right corner.
Find your unzipped file and navigate to DeDRM_calibre_plugin> DeDRM_calibre_plugin . Click Yes in the virus warning that appears and a message confirming successful installation will appear.
Per the on-screen message, please restart the Caliber app.
If you have a Kindle, there is one final step. In caliber, go to Preferences> Plugins and expand the menu under File Type Plugins .
Double-click the DeDRM listing, choose Kindle e-Ink eBooks , and add the serial number of your device. On most Kindles, you can find your serial number in the device settings menu.
The tool will only work when you import books into Caliber for the first time. It won't work if you're converting books between formats. Therefore, if you have already imported DRM books, you will need to remove them from the application and import them again.
DRM removal is the simplest part of the whole process. Simply drag and drop your e-books from your e-reader (or local drive) into Calibre's main window; the software will automatically remove the DRM. If you're extracting them from a Kindle, drag out all the files associated with each book and click None when warning about duplicates.
Unfortunately, Apple users want to remove DRM from their iBooks Kindle vs. iBooks:What's the best e-reader for your iPad or iPhone? Kindle vs. iBooks:What's the best e-reader for your iPad or iPhone? Apple iBooks and Amazon Kindle are two of the best apps for reading a book and each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but which one is right for your reading habits? Read More
The only reliable method is to use TunesKit iBook DRM removal tool. This will set you back $30, but if you have thousands of e-books, it's a price worth paying.
After you've downloaded and installed the app, you'll need to download all of your iBooks to your local machine.
Once you have saved them, simply drag and drop them into the DRM removal software and click Convert . Et voila Simple, effective, but unfortunately not free.
We hope this offers a solution to remove DRM from your e-books. However, we'd love to learn more about the tools you've used before. Have you found a cheaper and more reliable method for Apple iBooks? Maybe you have found a simpler approach to remove Kindle DRM?
If you can offer any help or advice to your readers, feel free to leave a comment below. Hopefully, we'll all discover new tips and tricks to rid the world of GRD!
