The Kobo DRM-free epub fiasco

[Anak]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

That doesn't sound like a glitch as much as a policy/design decision: "If the publisher sends us epub2, set it up for straighgt download--if they send us epub3, set it up as Kepub."

There must be a business/technical reason for the divide. Kobo proudly proclaims epub3 support but might it be like Amazon's "support" for epub, on the publishing side as feedstock only?

How are the Kobo readers with sideloaded epub3? New ones, old ones...?

No, it is not choice or decision from Kobo it is a glitch.
This is another good example - and I've come across many over the years - that every fault, mistake, bug or other kind of error isn't just that but is justified by many MR members as a deliberate or intentional decision made by Kobo. And that's probably one of the reasons why Kobo doesn't fix them. It seems Kobo doesn't even care. They just want to make sale and it ends right there.


Kobo gets it books delivered straight from the publisher (without DRM) because Kobo host their books on their own servers. Other vendors might to the same (Amazon) but smaller book sellers often use use third-party service to which the publisher uploads it's books (with DRM scheme or other form of DRM protection or even DRM free). The publisher has full control over /access to the books uploaded these servers. Publishers can update their books if they are not error free (ORC mistakes, etc.). They also send the updated version to book sellers that host the books themselves but it is up to the seller to make the updated version available to its customers. That's where it fails often. Kobo still sells "verion 1" books while other sellers sell the latest available version.

It doesn't matter if the format is either epub2 or epub3. Kobo only has to do two things:

The publishers book (epub2/epub3) should be
1. converted to Kobo propietary kepub format and wrap Kobos proprietary DRM scheme around it;
2. add an ADEPT DRM scheme(*) to the publishers book. Kobo does not make any other changes to the book.

Note 2. The epub version that Kobo sells is identical to those sold by other book sellers but the DRM scheme may be different.
Some don't add a DRM scheme but use a watermark as DRM (as this is more customer friendly). In The Netherlands most other online bookstores sell watermarked books and don't use the 'traditional' Adobe DRM scheme anymore.

If Kobo just does 1 and 2 then both formats can be downloaded to Kobo readers and the epubs remain standard epubs. Either in flavor epub2 or epub3.

It is clear that Kobos ebook processing process isn't up-to-date as it can't correctly handle epub3 books. It is capable to convert it to kepub (point 1) but it can't do the 'standard epub route' (point 2) and rejects or aborts further processing.

(*) if there is a different (new or hardened) flavour in ADEPT DRM schemes for epub2 and/or epub3 then Kobo's automated processes should only have to detect the correct format of the book, which is either epub2 or epub3 and add the proper DRM scheme to it.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Anak

No, it is not choice or decision from Kobo it is a glitch.
This is another good example - and I've come across many over the years - that every fault, mistake, bug or other kind of error isn't just that but is justified by many MR members as a deliberate or intentional decision made by Kobo. And that's probably one of the reasons why Kobo doesn't fix them. It seems Kobo doesn't even care. They just want to make sale and it ends right there.


Kobo gets it books delivered straight from the publisher (without DRM) because Kobo host their books on their own servers. Other vendors might to the same (Amazon) but smaller book sellers often use use third-party service to which the publisher uploads it's books (with DRM scheme or other form of DRM protection or even DRM free). The publisher has full control over /access to the books uploaded these servers. Publishers can update their books if they are not error free (ORC mistakes, etc.). They also send the updated version to book sellers that host the books themselves but it is up to the seller to make the updated version available to its customers. That's where it fails often. Kobo still sells "verion 1" books while other sellers sell the latest available version.

It doesn't matter if the format is either epub2 or epub3. Kobo only has to do two things:

The publishers book (epub2/epub3) should be
1. converted to Kobo propietary kepub format and wrap Kobos proprietary DRM scheme around it;
2. add an ADEPT DRM scheme(*) to the publishers book. Kobo does not make any other changes to the book.

Note 2. The epub version that Kobo sells is identical to those sold by other book sellers but the DRM scheme may be different.
Some don't add a DRM scheme but use a watermark as DRM (as this is more customer friendly). In The Netherlands most other online bookstores sell watermarked books and don't use the 'traditional' Adobe DRM scheme anymore.

If Kobo just does 1 and 2 then both formats can be downloaded to Kobo readers and the epubs remain standard epubs. Either in flavor epub2 or epub3.

(*) if there is a different (new or hardened) flavour in ADEPT DRM schemes for epub2 and/or epub3 then Kobo's automated processes should only have to detect the correct format of the book, which is either epub2 or epub3 and add the proper DRM scheme to it.

This thread is for DRM-free books so it's even simpler.

1. convert to Kobo propietary kepub format.
2. make epub available for download.

If it's this simple, why can't Kobo manage to do it correctly? That's why this was thought to be Kobo's decision - it should be too simple to screw up.

[Anak]

Found it.
Nieuwe eBoekafnemers: Bruna.nl en Yindo

Om meer e-Boeken te kunnen verkopen/uitlenen, hebben we twee nieuwe afnemers aan het CB-systeem toegevoegd, die met eigen apps werken voor diverse platformen (Apple, Android). Dit betreffen Bruna.nl en Yindo.

Omdat dit specialistische Apps zijn, die anders werken dan standaard, hebben deze afnemers (niet de apps zelf) via het CB daarmee toegang gekregen tot de bronbestanden van al onze eBoeken. Dat betekent dat de afnemers niet, zoals bij andere afnemers, per verkoop een beschermd (met watermerk of DRM) bestand krijgen, maar dat ze toegang tot de originele bestanden hebben, waarvan ze per verkoop een kopie maken en die zelf beveiligen. De afnemers houden ook zelf de verkopen bij en de afrekening vindt eens per maand via het eBoekhuis (en ons), net zoals dat nu ook bij iBooks en Kobo gebeurt.

Selected parties (including Kobo, iTunes) have access to the source files to process the books to make them work with their apps/readers and have to add a DRM scheme on top of it. These books are hosted and served from their own servers to their customers.
Kobo host two versions of a booktitle, a epub and a kepub file. If I remember downloadable Adobe epubs can be downloaded from "acs4.shortcovers.com:8080" (Adobe Content Server). The domain shortcovers is part of Kobos back-end.

Other smaller serve books from an external server usally to which the publisher uploaded it books (which already contain some form of DRM protection and which may or may not be further "personalized" when downloaded by a customer).

So, yes. It shouldn't be that difficult to add an Adobe DRM scheme to the source file if the source files is epub3 as the process or workflow isn't any different than that of epub2.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Anak

Found it.
Nieuwe eBoekafnemers: Bruna.nl en Yindo


Selected parties (including Kobo, iTunes) have access to the source files to process the books to make them work with their apps/readers and have to add a DRM scheme on top of it. These books are hosted and served from their own servers to their customers.
Kobo host two versions of a booktitle, a epub and a kepub file. If I remember downloadable Adobe epubs can be downloaded from "acs4.shortcovers.com:8080" (Adobe Content Server). The domain shortcovers is part of Kobos back-end.

Other smaller serve books from an external server usally to which the publisher uploaded it books (which already contain some form of DRM protection and which may or may not be further "personalized" when downloaded by a customer).

So, yes. It shouldn't be that difficult to add an Adobe DRM scheme to the source file if the source files is epub3 as the process or workflow isn't any different than that of epub2.

Again...DRM has NOTHING to do with this thread.

Shari

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Anak

Found it.
Nieuwe eBoekafnemers: Bruna.nl en Yindo


Selected parties (including Kobo, iTunes) have access to the source files to process the books to make them work with their apps/readers and have to add a DRM scheme on top of it. These books are hosted and served from their own servers to their customers.
Kobo host two versions of a booktitle, a epub and a kepub file. If I remember downloadable Adobe epubs can be downloaded from "acs4.shortcovers.com:8080" (Adobe Content Server). The domain shortcovers is part of Kobos back-end.

Other smaller serve books from an external server usally to which the publisher uploaded it books (which already contain some form of DRM protection and which may or may not be further "personalized" when downloaded by a customer).

So, yes. It shouldn't be that difficult to add an Adobe DRM scheme to the source file if the source files is epub3 as the process or workflow isn't any different than that of epub2.

Please read my answer. I almost said read my answer again, but you obviously did not read it at all.

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

This thread is for DRM-free books so it's even simpler.

1. convert to Kobo propietary kepub format.
2. make epub available for download.

If it's this simple, why can't Kobo manage to do it correctly? That's why this was thought to be Kobo's decision - it should be too simple to screw up.

[JSWolf]

It seems Kobo has fixed the problem with ePub 3 and that's very good. I've not tried any ePub 3 with DRM to see if it works, but ePub 3 without DRM seems to be working.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It seems Kobo has fixed the problem with ePub 3 and that's very good. I've not tried any ePub 3 with DRM to see if it works, but ePub 3 without DRM seems to be working.

Still not fixed for the one DRM-free EPUB3 in my library. Looks like I'll have to try to contact them about it.

[ForsCream]

Days ago when I want to buy a book from Kobo (last time I bought books from Kobo is 2 years ago), as usual I click "Adobe DRM" button to download an .acsm file and want to sync it via ADE.

But ADE says the authorization is wrong, what the h***, this is the only Adobe account I have. So I contacted Kobo customer service to reset the Adobe account associated with my Kobo account, but the customer service staff just copy&paste the solution, which tells me to connect my Kobo with my computer, and run ADE.

The truth is, I've clearly told them I don't have a Kobo reader, only buy books from Kobo. Obviously the Kobo customer service staff won't even read my scenario.

Goodbye Kobo. The last time I buy book from you.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by ForsCream

Days ago when I want to buy a book from Kobo (last time I bought books from Kobo is 2 years ago), as usual I click "Adobe DRM" button to download an .acsm file and want to sync it via ADE.

But ADE says the authorization is wrong, what the h***, this is the only Adobe account I have. So I contacted Kobo customer service to reset the Adobe account associated with my Kobo account, but the customer service staff just copy&paste the solution, which tells me to connect my Kobo with my computer, and run ADE.

What was the EXACT error message?

Have you tried closing ADE, going back to Kobo, downloading a new acsm, and trying again? Sometimes something goes wrong in the process with ADE/etc, I find ADE intermittently as flaky as anything with library books as well as with Kobo books or books bought elsewhere again.

If you're getting other errors with ADE also, something that can sometimes help is to clear out the "restore" folder in the Digital Editions directory.

Also, obviously, double check your ADE settings that your correct authorisation is in there.

ETA: Hang on, in another thread you said you've got obok up and working. There's another workaround you could try.

[DiapDealer]

The part that is annoying, is when you tell them right off the bat in your complaint that you don't have a Kobo device, and still ... their suggestions/solutions are all predicated on pretending that you do.

Robo-responses I could understand, but if a human is taking the time to respond to a complaint, you might want to actually read the complaint. It wil help you to avoid suggesting impossible/irrelevant solutions.

[meeera]

I know this, DiapDealer, I get it. When you have a problem, you can do one of three things: 1. Whinge and flail. 2. Problem-solve. 3. Both. I was attempting to throw in a little of option 2.

[DiapDealer]

I don't consider expecting Kobo's CS to get better to be "whingeing," but I take your point. I actually like problem solving. Except when it includes bashing my head against a a brick customer service wall.

If Kobo allows people without their devices to buy their books, then they need to get better at training their CS reps to recognize that people without their devices will be buying their books ... and perhaps need their assistance from time to time. At least add the situation to the tech support dartboard.