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March 23, 2005
A Consumer's View on DRMed PDFs
Here's a data point for those of you who are doing or considering PDF sales.
I just moved to a new laptop; my old one suffered one malfunction too many after four years of faithful service. I had seen something about the free PDF version of the main Exalted book at DriveThruRPG, and I had assumed it would be protected by DRM. When my friend Rick mentioned that the PDF was watermarked rather than encumbered, though, I logged in and downloaded it immediately.
I haven't bothered to download and set up the DRM in Adobe Reader. I haven't even downloaded Reader; I'm on a Mac and Preview, which comes with OS X, suffices for most applications. I have realized that I would rather not get a free game system, not even one I'm interested in playing sometime, if I have to install and use DRM.
I'll do it for my (iTunes) music, because all I had to do was deauthorize one computer and authorize another. The iTunes application came on the machine and as it happens, I didn't even have to move the files: they were on an external hard drive. But I won't do what I'll do for my music for a free game system PDF, and I'm pretty sure based on this incident that I wouldn't do it for a game I paid for.
I may not be typical; my $0.02; YMMV; etc.
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Comments
Totall agree -- DRM is a make or break issue for me for PDFs whether purchased or free. DRM limits my ability to use the product the way I want to use it. For example, when preparing notes for a game I will often want to cut and paste material from some of my supporting PDFs into my notes. No can do most of the time with DRM in place. This reduced functionality for the end user is not adequate for my needs. If it works for the author and they genuinely make more dollars without mine, that's cool. I doubt that any good research exists to prove it though.
Posted by: BMurray at Mar 23, 2005 1:59:31 PM
I think the fear of pirated game materials is just way, way out of hand to what actually happens. Consider the difference between pirating music, and pirating rpgs... When you pirate music, you can easily transfer it onto an mp3 player, or burn it onto CD. In both these cases, its very easy to use music without having to resort to different devices.
When it comes to rpgs, either you need to play with a laptop at the table or print it all out. Depending on the size of the pdf and how many table copies your group needs, this could get really expensive. Gamers also happen to be collectors, so while a pdf might be nice, if they really like a game they'll also tend to get the print version just for the collection factor.
Until the day when we get electronic "books" that feel like paper and don't glow with monitor light, rpgs have little to worry about with regards to piracy.
Posted by: Chris at Mar 23, 2005 11:13:08 PM
I bought a few DRM PDF's and installed DRM on my home computer... and my wife's, and at work, and the laptop I was using at the time. I have cut and pasted many times from the document. I can access the PDF anywhere I want.
It has caused me ZERO trouble.
Most of the people who complain about it haven't tried to use it.
Posted by: Vaxalon at Mar 24, 2005 8:54:03 PM
Yeah, total agreement. I'd never used drive-thru's service until once the watermarking started - now I may start buying some material (especially esoterica like the Tekumel materials).
Cheer for the changes. :)
Posted by: John Fiala at Mar 25, 2005 10:03:46 AM
DRM didn't bug me that much; however, I did have problems when I accidentally registered two Adobe identities. I think it's probably fair to say that DRM isn't a problem if everything goes right, but it's a nightmare if things go wrong.
Posted by: Bryant at Mar 25, 2005 10:27:28 AM
I'm inclined to believe the following piece, which talks about DRM as part of a broader struggle over intellectual property rights:
www.corante.com/copyfight/archives/003559.html
Posted by: Shahed at Mar 29, 2005 12:49:02 PM
I'm inclined to believe the following piece, which talks about DRM as part of a broader struggle over intellectual property rights:
www.corante.com/copyfight/archives/003559.html
Posted by: Shahed at Mar 29, 2005 12:49:47 PM
I'm inclined to believe the following piece, which talks about DRM as part of a broader struggle over intellectual property rights:
www.corante.com/copyfight/archives/003559.html
Posted by: Shahed at Mar 29, 2005 1:10:06 PM
Sorry about that! Ouch, that's embarrassing.
Posted by: Shahed at Mar 29, 2005 1:11:27 PM
Shahed: While I think that that article has a point about DRM as it relates to Hollywood or the recording industries, I don't think it's probably very reflective of the thinking of most RPG-industry IP owners.
In talking about piracy-related subjects with certain RPG professionals, I've noticed several times a very emotional stance on the subject. That is, I think that to some professionals, the fiscal effects of piracy are of at best secondary importance -- they want DRM or other piracy "solutions" not because it will make them more money, but because they feel taken advantage of by pirates and hate the idea that their work will be pirated, full stop.
I'd suggest that the RPG industry is fundamentally too small (and too aware of how small they are) to use DRM as a tool in a broader fight for the legal future of IP. Those members of the industry who are in favor of it probably just either buy the idea that it will be effective in making them more money OR like the idea of anything that will make piracy more difficult, regardless of other effects.
Posted by: Mike "Epoch" Sullivan at Mar 29, 2005 2:21:54 PM
It has caused me ZERO trouble.
You don't use Linux, I gather?
Posted by: Ricardo at Apr 1, 2005 10:00:07 AM
I recall that the folk over at Steve Jackson Games got very emotional over P2P piracy of their work a couple or few years ago when the phenomenon first emerged.
But they got over it and started thinking instead of reacting.
Now e23, their new PDF branch, uses no DRM at all, not even drivethru's personalisation.
Posted by: NelC at Apr 1, 2005 7:57:37 PM
I use Preview on my Mac. If a game doesn't work with Preview, I'm not going to download it. End of story. I have no need for Acrobat Reader, and there's no reason for them to require it either. Acrobat helps and encourages people to use DRM because it helps sell their products. Don't think that they won't prey to someone's piracy fears.
Posted by: David Chunn at Apr 11, 2005 3:20:06 PM
