Anxiety With Scribd: Can a PDF be deleted after I've saved it to my PC?

[FatGuy]

Hello everyone, I need advice. I know this is a strange question, but I'm still learning about how PDF files work so I'd appreciate any help to calm my extreme anxiety!

I'm new to Scribd and I just signed up to a Scribd 30 day trial. I just downloaded a few different ebooks from Scribd.com that are all in the PDF format but I was only given access to these PDF files because I signed up for a 30 day trial to Scribd's premium service.

My question is:

At the end of the Scribd 30 day trial, will I still be able to read and access the PDF files I've downloaded?

How can I make sure I'll still have access after my Scribd 30 day free trial ends?

Thank you for any suggestions!

[FatGuy]

Does anyone have experience with Scribd?

[Desertway]

You might do better on the Scribd subreddit.

[FatGuy]

Originally Posted by Desertway

You might do better on the Scribd subreddit.

Thanks so much for your reply, but I've never used Reddit before...

[DNSB]

For what it may be worth, most of Scribd's PDFs will not open after your membership expires unless you remove DRM. Removing DRM from a loan is a repugnant idea.

[FatGuy]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For what it may be worth, most of Scribd's PDFs will not open after your membership expires unless you remove DRM. Removing DRM from a loan is a repugnant idea.

Thanks so much for your reply!

I checked the PDF file and it has no DRM. It's just a .PDF file.

[Desertway]

Originally Posted by FatGuy

Thanks so much for your reply, but I've never used Reddit before...

If you don't want to make an account, you can search and browse and see if someone else has asked the same question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Scribd/

[paperwhite13]

Originally Posted by FatGuy

Thanks so much for your reply!

I checked the PDF file and it has no DRM. It's just a .PDF file.

I have a Scribd Premium (and Everand) account. You won't lose access to your downloaded PDFs, Scribd doesn't own them (a lot of times these PDFs are pirated ebooks anyway).

[FatGuy]

Originally Posted by paperwhite13

I have a Scribd Premium (and Everand) account. You won't lose access to your downloaded PDFs, Scribd doesn't own them (a lot of times these PDFs are pirated ebooks anyway).

Thanks so much for your reply!

I've uploaded this particular PDF from Scribd to my PC as well as a bunch of USB HDD's and USB flash drives.

Is there any way I can check that'll these PDF files will be still accessible if I close my Scribd Premium account?

The PDF file I downloaded from Scribd is also downloadable in .TXT form. Does this help me?

[BionicGecko]

Originally Posted by FatGuy

Thanks so much for your reply!

I've uploaded this particular PDF from Scribd to my PC as well as a bunch of USB HDD's and USB flash drives.

Is there any way I can check that'll these PDF files will be still accessible if I close my Scribd Premium account?

The PDF file I downloaded from Scribd is also downloadable in .TXT form. Does this help me?

Your insistence on making sure you can access loaned files after your subscription ends is bordering on piracy, which is not viewed kindly here. If that file is important to you, you may want to keep your subscription open for as long as you need it.

Now, from a purely technical perspective, .txt files are simply a string of characters; they cannot contain DRM. So if you do download the .txt version, there is no way for the contents of that file to be blocked from access after your subscription ends.

[FatGuy]

Originally Posted by BionicGecko

Your insistence on making sure you can access loaned files after your subscription ends is bordering on piracy, which is not viewed kindly here. If that file is important to you, you may want to keep your subscription open for as long as you need it.

Now, from a purely technical perspective, .txt files are simply a string of characters; they cannot contain DRM. So if you do download the .txt version, there is no way for the contents of that file to be blocked from access after your subscription ends.

Thanks so much for your reply!

Sorry if I wasn't clear: I'm definitely not using any pirated PDF files and I'm also paying for a scribd.com premium subscription so I'm not getting anything for free. I know how hard authors work so I always support them as much as I can.

However, if Scribd removed the PDF files I've downloaded and paid for or if Scribd.com closed down tomorrow, would I still be able to open the PDF files?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by FatGuy

Thanks so much for your reply!

Sorry if I wasn't clear: I'm definitely not using any pirated PDF files and I'm also paying for a scribd.com premium subscription so I'm not getting anything for free. I know how hard authors work so I always support them as much as I can.

However, if Scribd removed the PDF files I've downloaded and paid for or if Scribd.com closed down tomorrow, would I still be able to open the PDF files?

A subscription means you have permission to access those files as long as you have the subscription; you'll lose the right to access them if you end the subscription. You didn't pay for those files, because you didn't purchase them; you purchased the subscription, which allows you to view them. No subscription grants you permanent access. To have permanent access to a book/file, you must purchase that book or file, not the subscription to view it.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by FatGuy

However, if Scribd removed the PDF files I've downloaded and paid for or if Scribd.com closed down tomorrow, would I still be able to open the PDF files?

You didn't pay for any files. You are paying a library subscription. You don't have a right to read any of those without a Scribd subscription even if there is no DRM.

[paperwhite13]

Originally Posted by Quoth

You didn't pay for any files. You are paying a library subscription. You don't have a right to read any of those without a Scribd subscription even if there is no DRM.

Scribd (before splitting into Scribd and Everand) was two things in one:

1. audiobook and ebook streaming/borrowing (which couldn't actually be downloaded, they could only be accessed with the Scribd app)

2. PDF/txt downloading. These were files uploaded by other users; in order to download something, you had to either upload something in return or get a subscription.

So, if you were able to simply download the PDF, it means there was no DRM attached and it's safe to keep it. They won't self-destruct. Whether that PDF was pirated material or some free user manual, it's no one's business and nobody owns anyone else an explanation.

[paperwhite13]

Originally Posted by FatGuy

Thanks so much for your reply!

I've uploaded this particular PDF from Scribd to my PC as well as a bunch of USB HDD's and USB flash drives.

Is there any way I can check that'll these PDF files will be still accessible if I close my Scribd Premium account?

The PDF file I downloaded from Scribd is also downloadable in .TXT form. Does this help me?

There's no further need to check anything. See my reply above, if you were able to simply download it, it's yours to keep, there's no DRM.