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Amazon Threatens Lawsuit over Kindle DRM Workaround

Posted 03/16/09 at 10:35:04 AM  by Paul Lilly

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"The power of the DMCA compels you! The power of the DMCA compels you!" That was essentially the mantra muttered by Amazon, who invoked the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to convince MobileRead.com to remove instructions on how to use a hack to circumvent DRM on the Kindle eBook reader.

"Although we never hosted this tool (contrary to their claim), nor believe that this tool is used to remove technological measures (contrary to their claim), we decided, due to the vagueness of the DMCA law and our intention to remain in good relation with Amazon, to voluntarily follow their request and remove links and detailed instructions related to it.," MobileRead.com forum moderator Alexander Turcic said in a post.

The hack involved a small Python script called kindlepid.py, which ultimately made it possible for Kindle owners who followed the site's instructions to be able to read books legally purchased from other e-book stores on the Kindle. MobileRead.com neither created nor hosted the 'offending' script, but posting a tutorial was enough to draw the legal ire of Amazon, who threatened the site with a lawsuit if it didn't "immediately remove" information relating to the computer utility.

COMMENTS:8
TAGS: drm, amazon, kindle, digital rights management
COMMENTS
avatarExactly the reason why I

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Tue, 03/17/2009 - 8:06am

Exactly the reason why I won't own a Kindle. You can only read what Amazon says it's ok to read. If Amazon does'nt like a book they can burn it or delete it and try to read it from another service and your fucked. 

Exactly the reason why I don't purchase MP3 files. DRM. I refuse to purchase MP3 files. I will either by the damn cd or pirate the music but I will never ever purchase a single MP3 track with any type of DRM. 

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avatarlol

Submitted by hammerfell on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 10:56am

.... drm.... lame....

books had the ultimate form of "DRM". they were books... unless you took all the time to type up and post the stuff on the internet or maybe created some sort of word scanning software it stayed in pretty much the same format you bought it in... a book.... 

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avatarAmazon will learn like

Submitted by horzo on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 8:36am

Amazon will learn like everybody else that enforcing DRM is hopeless. Somewhat ironic since they sell and promote DRM-free music.

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avatarThis is why I'll never

Submitted by KaylaKaze on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 8:24am

This is why I'll never Kindle and don't think anyone should buy one. It's sad 'cause I've been pro-ebook device for decades, but the DRM on this thing is ridiculous.

 And Amazon cares because what this script does is allow you to buy books from places other than Amazon.

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avatarNot totally true

Submitted by billtaichi on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 4:14am

I have a Kindle and I do think the DRM is ridiculous but I would point out that it is NOT true that you can't read books from other places , I have got many books from webscriptions.net and other sites.  

I can read any book in the mobi format.   I also can have many documents converted into mobi format either by amazon or I can do it myself with free software.   I would say about 35% of the books I have read on my Kindle did not come from Amazon.    I see so many people who think the Kindle only allows you to read books from amazon and that simply is not true, if it were I would not be near as happy with my purchase.

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avatarI still don't think a

Submitted by comptech08 on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 9:12am

I still don't think a company should still have any type of control over a device that has already been sold.  Once they sell it, it is now the Consumers to do whatever he/she wants to do with it.

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avatarwow that is just stupid. 

Submitted by comptech08 on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 8:04am

wow that is just stupid.  Why do these companies have to be so greedy?  So what if the owner has hacked their OWN device.  Why does Amazon have to care?

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avatarWell, it was posted by

Submitted by Tekzel on Wed, 03/18/2009 - 5:46pm

Well, it was posted by another person, but worth repeating.  They care because it allows people to use content purchased elsewhere on the device, which Amazon hates the idea of.  They love vendor lock-in, just like any other content distribution service.  They hate competition and avoid it when they can.

Now, as to whether it is right or wrong, that is eventually going to be up to the courts to decide.  Depending on who buys what politician, it can go either way.  

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