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Message: <blockquote data-quote="maddman75" data-source="post: 1593529" data-attributes="member: 2673">However, I think that this DRM scheme may increase piracy.  If someone has trouble getting it to work or can't for whatever reason - if they don't use an "approved" operating system, their gaming machine doesn't connect to the internet, or they want to print their pdf at a print shop these pseudo-pdfs are useless.  All you've done it given them motive to download a real PDF off the pirate network that they can actually use.And a letter at the beginning of each PDF, or a statement when the pdf is bought couldn't do this in a much less antagonistic and insulting way?I don't like adobe.  I think their products are bloated and slow, and I don't like their history with ebooks or digital rights.  But since PDFs are an open standard I don't have to use their reader -- unless its one of these DRMed Pseudo-pdfs that I can only read on approved operating systems with approved versions of their software.  Further, not only does this DRM not work, DRM will never work.  Ever.  Its impossible.  If I can view your data, I can make a copy of it.  If all else fails a pirate could use a digital camera to take pictures of his monitor.  If that sounds like a lot of hassle, remember that some of these people will despine their books so they can get better scans.  Don't trust me, ask anyone educated in encryption.  If Alice sends a message to Bob and Bob has the key, there's nothing Alice can do to keep Bob from sending it to Carol.Only if you and the other companies on DTRPG remove the spyware from your products.  An RPG book does not need to be phoning home to make sure its okay for me to open it.That is, at least, the case for FFG. Even so, we'd like to price our eBooks at a more competitive price--obviously, we'd like to produce as much revenue from this venture as possible. However, many of our retailers and distributors are extremely concerned (and every bit as passionate as many here) about direct-to-consumer competition from publishers. These folks are extremely important to us. Consider: The vast majority of FFG's revenues do not even derive from RPG products, let alone eBook versions of those products. It would be the height of insanity for us, as a company, to jeopardize even one relationship with a retailer or distributor over the pricing of RPG eBooks. We may all believe that eBooks and print products don't compete with each other, but frankly, it isn't our perception that matters here. It's theirs, and we're going to respect that. If that means we sell fewer eBooks than we otherwise would, that's unfortunate for both the company and the customers we might otherwise have gained, but we'll have to live with it. For now.Thanks much,GregFFG</blockquote>[/QUOTE]

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