Speed bumps

I've written a lot about piracy and a fair amount about DRM, particularly how it creates platform lock-in. Much of what there is to say has already been said.

A couple of weeks ago, paidContent's Laura Hazard Owen landed a first-person account from someone who had become a convert to breaking DRM. This time, though, that person is a publisher.

Her piece is reasonably short and worth reading in its entirety. A brief excerpt from the (anonymous) publisher captures its spirit:

"… I don’t think DRM is good for the publisher, author or customer. Don’t pro-DRM publishers realize this is one of the key complaints from their customers? I’ve heard plenty of customers tell me that e-book prices need to be low because they’re only buying access to the content, not fully owning it. That needs to change."

It changes in simple ways, like trusting readers.

About Brian O'Leary

Founder and principal of Magellan Media Consulting, Brian O’Leary helps enterprises with media and publishing components capitalize on the power of content. A veteran of more than 30 years in the publishing industry and a prolific content producer himself, Brian leverages the breadth and depth of his experience to deliver innovative content solutions.