Does Kindle spell the end of intellectual freedom?
Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 09:48PM
In a recent Christian Science Monitor editorial, librarian Emily Walsch writes:
... Kindle is on fire in the marketplace. Who could resist reading "what you want, when you want it?" Access to more than 240,000 books is just seconds away. And its "revolutionary electronic-paper display ... looks and reads like real paper."
But it comes with restrictions: You can't resell or share your books – because you don't own them. You can download only from Amazon's store, making it difficult to read anything that is not routed through Amazon first. You're not buying a book; you're buying access to a book. No, it's not like borrowing a book from a library, because there is no public investment. It's like taking an interest-only mortgage out on intellectual property.
and adds
Digital rights management (DRM), which Kindle uses to lock in its library, raises critical questions about the nature of property and identity in digital culture.
Some questions come to mind.
- As long as both print and Kindle versions of a book are available, how does Kindle's DRM limit impinge on my rights? Kindle is offering a convenient format, not sole access to sets of information.
- How is what we are now experiencing with e-books with competing file formats any different from the VHS/Beta or BlueRay/HDTV battles in video? Why were we not worreid about the end of intellectual freedom then - only mad about the inconvenience?
- Why is "renting" a book from Amazon any more dangerous than renting a movie through Netflix or from BlockBuster. Is this a new species of format bigotry?
- Are we moving to culture that leases rather than owns - property, ideas, values? Is change so rapid that we refuse to invest in something (and be stuck with it) that may be obsolete tomorrow? Is this a good survival strategy - or the end of civilization as we know it? (The science fiction novel Futureland by Walter Mosely describes what a rental culture might look like - along with postliteracy.)
- How can both anti and pro censorship groups hate the same device?
- How much are librarians like Ms Walsch writing out of fear of an unknown future for their institutions (and jobs) rather than concern about censorship? What happens when it is more economical to buy or rent each patron a digitial copy of something than it is to buy a physical copy, catalog it, shelve it, manage it, loan it, and eventually discard it? I've written before that I don't yet know the function of libraries when digital text become so inexpensive, useful and convenient that the old purpose of the library fades away. It is scary, but I don't think setting up hollow men is the best response by our profession.
I am not sure Walsch makes her case that ...
Access equals control. In this case, it is control over what is read and what is not; what is referenced and what is overlooked; what is retained and what is deleted; what is and what seems to be.
Is a culture that "leases" its books rather than "own" its books at greater risk of censorship? Perhaps one day when there are no alternatives. But I am not losing much sleep over the issue tonight.
(OK, Stephen, Peter and Tom - get ready to write..)
Reader Comments (17)
The issue is not format, it is digital rights management. With Kindle's DRM, access to a book you've purchased can be remotely disallowed, or the content of the book can be changed without your knowledge or permission. It might be paranoid to think this could happen, but isn't it part of the role of librarians in our society to look out for that kind of thing? Or do you just shelve books?
This is the first time I've heard this opinion expressed about the kindle, but it raises some very interesting questions. I don't understand why vendors expect us to pay for content that has overprotective DRM protocols. DRM standards have a long way to go before they are mutually beneficial to both the user and the distributor. ISTE is currently running a poll to find out what the MOST EFFECTIVE ED TECH TOOLS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS. If the kindle is continues to have DRM issues like this I don't think we'll be talking about it's impact on anything 30 years from now. Great post!
I have inexpensive books on my shelves that are 45 years old, still readable, still lendable. DRM is nothing but power grabbing for the sake of perhap several ends. For all the trumpeting about Apple ending DRM in the media products, they've added a DRM chip to the iTouch headphones and the software renders unusuable any headphones that haven't added that chip. Is Kindle/Amazon's DRM-ing the reason that Google has made 500,000 books available for free to Sony for its reader?
The problem with her article is that she's basing it on the premise that you must get your content from amazon. I wrote an article on this topic the other day. To go one step further, I've come up with a suggestion on how to build a network for distributing non-drmed content for the kindle. This is no different then the itunes debates from 2004-2008, which have ended with DRM free music for all. I hate to say this but on some level I wonder how much of Prof. Walshe's arguments are based on the fact she's a librarian and hasn't come around just yet.
I'm interested in the nonDRM formatted for Kindle that Sean mentions here. I'd love to ride my wind trainer and read but I am reluctant to support a big multinational with poor record on the treatment of employees. I want to own what I've purchased to so I'm still on the fence and I don't yet have the Kindle or an iPhone which apparently has an app for this. I'm watching with great interest. I am happy to pay authors and illustrators but I dislike paying multinationals. It's my anti-capitalist streak. We'll see what comes down the pipe. I'm sure not able to stop the deluge of change so I'm not going to get anywhere complaining about it.
I'm with you on this, Doug - "As long as both print and Kindle versions of a book are available, how does Kindle's DRM limit impinge on my rights? Kindle is offering a convenient format, not sole access to sets of information." If I'm choosing to use my hard-earned school librarian's salary on this new gadget for my personal use, I think that's my choice. If this was the only format I offered to my students and I required them to purchase an expensive device to use a book in this format, she might be able to make this point. It probably is like the Beta/VHS, etc. battles, but it's more fun to get it now.
(BTW - I'm asking my husband for a Kindle for my birthday so I'll have it during recovery from hip surgery in a few months. I can pick what I want to read, and I figure it's better than driving him mad bringing me stacks and stacks of books from the library. Kindle as preserver of peace and harmony in my marriage?)
1) I haven't read the original post so this reply is based solely on your post and comments.
2) I have knee jerk reactions to positions that sound like job security positions. I find this a lot in school libraries, we tend to get so wrapped up in losing our jobs we forget that it isn't about us - it is about students. And I know we contribute to an improved student learning and schooling experience
3) I guess I am a little slow on the uptake because it wasn't for 3 weeks after downloading WAY TOO MANY books and happily reading away that I realized that I couldn't share these books, or donate them to my school library. I wanted to share parts of Disrupting Class with a student for research, and I was considering what I read lately my friend would enjoy. Everything was on the Kindle. I am considering highlighting relevant parts for the student and sending her the text document I can download. But what does this mean for intellectual property - am I violating it if I do that? It isn't the whole book . . .
4) DRM - on a personal level until the Kindle I didn't find it restricting. Then again, I am an Apple user so iTunes and iPods are what I own and use. But now . . . I like the open source movement, I believe in it. I understand why it is important to protect IP but I appreciate the grand idea of collaboration and creation. The DRM on the Kindle annoys me. Reading is a social activity for me, and leasing from Amazon restricts the ability to that, which seems antithetical to me on some level. I think that DRM, user's needs, IP laws and mores are evolving so fast it is difficult to predict what direction they will eventually take. Wow, that is some insight huh? As for concerns about censoring digital text - yes hard copy will help keep that from happening. But also won't the interconnectedness of the digital community. Wouldn't you really have to lock down the digital community to keep the changes from coming out? Are we that worried about Big Brother and F451? Am I too rosy in thinking that position is too gloomy? At some point equilibrium will settle in - or at least wild pendulum swings.....
Meanwhile I like my Kindle - but I wish I could share what is on it with others . . . .
Joe:
"DRM standards have a long way to go before they are mutually beneficial to both the user and the distributor."
The wool has been pulled over our eyes if we believe that DRM can ever be "beneficial" to the user. The point of DRM is to limit the user's ability to do things with their files that they would normally be able to do. How can that ever be beneficial to the user?
Doug,
I think DRM should be rejected because it acts in direct opposition to the benefits that digital, networked technology can bring humanity. It disrespects culture because what sustains culture is sharing and remixing. The objective of DRM is to isolate individuals. It is digital consumerism. DRM is not needed to "protect" anyone. If everyone were free to share, books will still be written and authors will still make money. The Kindle is a swindle and supporting it means supporting an archaic and oppressive business model.
But hey, as one commented above, it's our choice. I've never tried a Kindle but I imagine they are sleek, sexy, and convenient. I'm sure it's easy to rationalize the purchase of one.
Hi Tom,
As long as the information is also available in other, non-DRM formats, I still don't see a Intellectual Freedom issue. Were it ONLY available as a DRM file, yes, I'd be nervous.
Oh, they stopped letting me reshelve books a long time ago when they discovered I had to sing the alphabet song in order to remember what letter followed what.
All the best,
Doug
Hi Joe,
I think Amazon is selling convenience as much as content with the Kindle. And I suspect DRM will exist only until another form a remuneration for creative works can be figured out.
Looking foward to taking your poll. I can only hope the TV remote control is one of your choices.
Doug
Hi Skip,
As far as I know, one can still access the content of DRM protected texts or music if one chooses to do so. Nobody is putting a gun to anyone's head making them buy a Kindle or an iPod. Like I said earlier, one is paying for convenience and quality, not content here.
I DO think the Google release was interesting.
All the best,
Doug
Hi Sean,
Great blog post. Thanks for linking to it here. And yes, I sensed plenty of protectionism in Walsch's comments!
All the best,
Doug
Hi Susan,
I don't want to be the person who gives up the truth about the Easter bunny, but buying print books also supports multi-nationals - publishers and book sellers both. But I certainly respect your wait-and-see philosophy.
All the best,
Doug
Ah yes, gaping hole in that argument. But I can buy from my local bookseller which supports local publishers, local authors and local employees. I don't see a way of doing that with Kindle, so while I wait and covet the iPhone and live with my own inconsistencies, I'll withhold trying to know it all and be right about this one.
By the way, how do you get your replies to go out as emails to the author, that's a neat trick.
Ah yes, gaping hole in that argument. But I can buy from my local bookseller which supports local publishers, local authors and local employees. I don't see a way of doing that with Kindle, so while I wait and covet the iPhone and live with my own inconsistencies, I'll withhold trying to know it all and be right about this one.
By the way, how do you get your replies to go out as emails to the author, that's a neat trick.
Since all the action seems to be over here, I'm going to post Doug's comments from my post here along with my reply. Doug you say:
"DRM doesn’t prevent me", "One need not have a", "One need not use", "one’s culture"
Doug, your focus is entirely self-referencing. I'm not seeing any consideration of what kind of environment we can (or cannot) have in a social sense. Personal choices are rarely (ever?) independent of society at large.
"Should material start appearing ONLY in DRM formats, I’d change my iTune quickly"
Start? In many cases there are digitized works legally available only with DRM. On a personal note, Clay Shirkey's "Here Comes Everybody" was the latest digitized book I couldn't find a legal DRM-free copy of to buy. The publishers lost a sale and the author lost huge exposure (I was going to teach a few chapters in my classes).
"I’ve never believed that paying for convenience is damaging to one’s culture or to intellectual freedom."
I don't believe in "one's culture"...at least in your context, it seems a euphemism for "my CD and book collection". To me, culture is shared or it isn't culture. Regardless, paying for convenience is not bad unless it comes at the price of relationships and creativity.
Hi Susan,
I do appreciate your commitment to your ideals. Like going green and eating locally, this stuff is tough to do!
My blog host, Squarespace, sends each comment to me as an email. I simply reply (when commenters include their email addresses.) I genuinely appreciate all the comments I receive on the blog and try to honor the time and attention readers show with a response.
All the best and keep your ideals!
Doug
Hi Peter,
I think we are talking at odds about culture, so I will let you have the last word here.
I would only add that Shirkey's book is certainly available without DRM - in hardback and paperback!
All the best,
Doug
"Shirkey's book is certainly available without DRM - in hardback and paperback!"
A hardback/paperback is analog so I don't understand the claim that it is DRM-free. For something to be free of DRM, it must have the possibility of being laden by DRM. Are you being facetious?
I'm struck by this idea of owning a text. As an English teacher, I'm prompted to ask, though: Regardless of who "owns" the text, isn't it the student-reader who owns the interpretation and experience of reading that text? I blogged about the Kindle a few weeks ago, too... (http://tomliamlynch.org/2009/03/08/rekindling-reading/) -TLL
We just did a "materials for the media center" exhibit in my SLMS class and one student brought in a Kindle and Sony Reader. To me they were both fine. I hadn't wanted one until I contemplated all the books I want to take on my next vacation--but then I already own them and don't want to buy them again for the e-reader. I did like how the Sony had all those free Google books available to it, so I'd probably go for one of those before a Kindle. I could see them being extremely useful for college students--if nothing else than just to keep up with the pdfs of all those journal articles the professors link to.
But I did my presentation of comic books/graphic novels and not one of those would look good on an e-reader! (Well, maybe MAUS...)
As usual, great conversation!
Hi Peter,
Yes, I was teasing a bit about books not having DRM. But to the point, having information in print format seems to me to take the censorship argument out of the DRM debate. Does Corey Doctorow's refusal to publish a Kindle version impinge on my intellectual freedom as a Kindle owner?
I'll give you last word on this, if you'd like, and then move on. Enjoyed the discussion.
Doug
Hi Tom,
Great blog post - thanks for sharing it. I can only hope that works in digital formats will increase the chance of creating more readers in this generation of students.
All the best,
Doug
Hi Ninja,
I have high hope for e-textbook readers, but I doubt they will be Kindles. The Sony that reads non-proprietary formats at the current time would be a better choice. I would not put it beyond textbook creators to come out with a device that only reads "their" materials, though.
I am hoping that open source curricula like Curriwiki will become the norm and that readers will only need to open some generic file format.
All the best,
Doug