cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/38033968
Apparently many libraries, including the ones in my country, are moving over to a system where you’re not allowed to digitally download the epub file anymore. You’re only allowed to borrow the book, and read it, in a closed ecosystem: an app. This per definition then excludes the majority of e-ink readers that don’t run Android. This is due to Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (Text with EEA relevance) (source) entering into force June 28 this year.
As the Adobe DRM solution hasn’t been updated for years, it isn’t capable of fulfilling all the requirements that this law lays out without endangering the DRM solution. Text-to-speech is one function that isn’t fully supported by Adobe for example. This means that there are apparently two directions to go for full compliance, Readium DRM which is barely supported as well or a closed app ecosystem.
This is frustrating on so many levels, especially if I would like to borrow an ebook in my native language that isn’t available elsewhere on the web, which is often the situation for books in my language (and I’m guessing most languages outside of English). The alternatives left is borrowing a physical copy, or buying it.
The enshittification of everything continues…
One of the reason I decided to quit reading ebooks as much as I can (started a little over a year ago) is that with print I fully own the books I purchase, there is no single corporation, not even Amazon, that is allowed to enter my house in order to ‘remove’ or delete a book from my bookshelves, and then when it’s a book I borrow from the public library, I don’t need to fight against DRM nor do I need to use an approved pair of eyes to be authorized to read it.
I totally get your POV. Though for me at least, I like the ease and comfort of just having my e-reader with me, especially when travelling or reading huge books that are a pain to flip through lying on the couch. I still have a sizeable physical library, especially for poetry, textbooks or books I really really like.
I understand that. I started reading ebooks in the early 00s and never looked back. It was perfect for a voracious reader like me. And I must admit switching back to print I kinda miss their practicality, but not in any significant manner (I also tend to only carry small books with me, like poetry or stuff like that)
But the realization of the quick erosion of our right to privacy and the disintegration of the very notion of ‘ownership’… Well, I wrote a little more in details about that on my blog if you’re interested. Am I reading or Am I Being Read by the book? and Who Owns the Ebook I Purchase?
Before I started reading ebooks I was an avid book collector (mostly into rare/original editions). Switching to ebooks made me quit all that and to get rid of my personal library… Some 25 years later I’m slowly rebuilding a personal print library but one that is not focused at all on the edition (I only worry about the quality of the binding/paper, as I want those books to be able to outlast me and be read by others once I’m gone) and much more on the content. It’s also way more selective, I must say ;)
Edit: typos.
Completely fair! I’ll check over your blog posts later, they definitely seem relevant to my interests. But either way I’d recommend you to post your blog posts on this community, they’d be a welcome addition as separate posts :)
