Ask HN: Where you do buy DRM-free, watermarked content? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Where you do buy DRM-free, watermarked content?

2 pointsristos3 comments

Where do you buy DRM-free, digitally watermarked content?

- Ebooks (textbooks) - Music - Movies - TV Shows

So far I'm using Amazon Music for mp3s, and eBooks.com for DRM-free, digitally watermarked textbooks, but their selection is limited.

I don't like DRM/subscription-based services because I don't own the content I buy and it requires maintenance. I currently think that digital watermarks would work a lot better from a long term cultural/behavioral point of view for stimulating online market activity. And I just want to be able to own things again.

I live abroad where it's difficult/unreliable/impossible to get things like CDs or textbooks mailed to here, and I'd prefer to buy these electronically anyway for convenience, flexibility, etc.

For music, same as you. Amazon.com for MP3s, but I'll usually check on Bandcamp.com first.

EBooks are tougher, because all ebook platforms are DRMd in some form; Amazon has its own DRM, other storefronts use Adobe, and libraries use Overdrive or Adobe. I'll be honest and tell you that I remove the DRM on ebooks and add them to my Calibre library, for personal use only. I don't know whether sharing how to remove DRM is allowed on HN though. If you haven't heard of Calibre I highly recommend it.

For games there's GOG.com and Itch.io. But many games nowadays are overwhelmingly on Steam, and many big titles now come with their own launchers or kernel level anti-cheats; it's nearly impossible to get popular games that are also DRM free.

Movies/TV shows, I don't really watch anything.

Is it legal to strip DRM, even if it is for personal use?

There are definitely some cases at the very least, based on what library of congress determines as fair use.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/10/victory-users-libraria...

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For other cases, if you choose to from a service you are subscribing to, you make end up violating terms of service, and at the very least give the company the right to stop continuing to providing the service (kindle or netflix), etc. to you. Not sure what else they could do in addition to that.

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