eBook Licensing: How many people and how many devices?

Arrghus · 07-22-2011, 04:15 PM

Thanks to Pottermore - launching in October, with what we hope will be all seven Harry Potter books in all manner of electronic formats to support the majority of devices available - I will be making my first eBook purchase(s). So far I have been reading only public domain works.

I have a Sony PRS-350, and my girlfirend is contemplating an Android smartphone. If I purchase these books, will we both be entitled to access them? I'd be buying EPUB (for my reader), and AFAIK there is an 'App' to open EPUBs on Android (presumably through Google eBooks).

I'm guessing I will have to allow my GF access to my Google account in order for her to access the files. But is there anything stopping her (legally) grabbing the files (once I've downloaded them to my computer) and using them as she sees fit? (Assuming these are truly DRM-free.)

With a paper book, a whole family often shares one copy (especially with Harry Potter). I'd hope to be able to share my eBooks with those I live with!

HarryT · 07-22-2011, 04:39 PM

Most publishers allow a reasonable level of sharing. With the Kindle, for example, you can read most books on up to six devices simultaneously, registered to the same account. With ADE books, you can share content again on up to six devices, registered to the same ADE account. We'll have to wait and see what the licensing terms are at Pottermore.

taustin · 07-22-2011, 07:03 PM

We won't know for certain until they're selling stuff, but the press releases have promised DRM free files, most certainly in ePub (and probably in mobi, too for the Kindle). The latest press release mentioned compatibility with 80 different readers. I believe the Google Books part is more for reading "in the cloud," but even there, you can download ePubs. Once you have the file, all you have to do is sideload it to your devices. They'd probably like for you to buy a copy for each reader, and some would argue that you should, but nobody but you will ever know if you did or not.

07-22-2011, 04:15 PM	#1
Arrghus Zealot Posts: 143 Karma: 5002 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Llandudno, Wales Device: Kindle PW2; Nexus 5X	eBook Licensing: How many people and how many devices? Thanks to Pottermore - launching in October, with what we hope will be all seven Harry Potter books in all manner of electronic formats to support the majority of devices available - I will be making my first eBook purchase(s). So far I have been reading only public domain works. I have a Sony PRS-350, and my girlfirend is contemplating an Android smartphone. If I purchase these books, will we both be entitled to access them? I'd be buying EPUB (for my reader), and AFAIK there is an 'App' to open EPUBs on Android (presumably through Google eBooks). I'm guessing I will have to allow my GF access to my Google account in order for her to access the files. But is there anything stopping her (legally) grabbing the files (once I've downloaded them to my computer) and using them as she sees fit? (Assuming these are truly DRM-free.) With a paper book, a whole family often shares one copy (especially with Harry Potter). I'd hope to be able to share my eBooks with those I live with!

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07-22-2011, 04:39 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Most publishers allow a reasonable level of sharing. With the Kindle, for example, you can read most books on up to six devices simultaneously, registered to the same account. With ADE books, you can share content again on up to six devices, registered to the same ADE account. We'll have to wait and see what the licensing terms are at Pottermore.

07-22-2011, 07:03 PM	#3
taustin Wizard Posts: 1,358 Karma: 5766642 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Nook	We won't know for certain until they're selling stuff, but the press releases have promised DRM free files, most certainly in ePub (and probably in mobi, too for the Kindle). The latest press release mentioned compatibility with 80 different readers. I believe the Google Books part is more for reading "in the cloud," but even there, you can download ePubs. Once you have the file, all you have to do is sideload it to your devices. They'd probably like for you to buy a copy for each reader, and some would argue that you should, but nobody but you will ever know if you did or not.

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