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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.
Links:
[1] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/paul_lilly
[2] http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10196424-38.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
[3] http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41929
[4] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/998_you_dont_care_about_drm_just_ask_electronic_arts
[5] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/apple_takes_a_bite_out_drm
[6] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/the_fight_against_drm_is_just_beginning
[7] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/amazon
[8] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/digital_rights_management
[9] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/drm
[10] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/kindle
[11] http://www.maximumpc.com/articles/news
[12] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/login?&commentfragment=comments_top_anchor