Charles Ryan on Watermarked PDFs

[MerricB]

From this thread on the Wizards boards.

Query:
Just wondering if the PDFs WotC have at DriveThruRPG will eventually be converted to watermarked protection instead of DRM?

Charles Ryan:
Certainly not out of the question.

For the immediate future, we're trying to control the variables in this experiment. Once we have a good baseline sense of the marketplace and how ebooks affect our business overall, we'll definitely consider different format options as well as other structural changes.

 

[reveal]

Since DriveThru RPG decided to start watermarked, I have purchased 2 items from them. I definitely like the watermark as opposed to the DRM. I hope WotC starts to use them.

 

[Eremite]

I have never thought that WotC has a clear strategy for its PDF releases and this response from Charles highlights that. It's hard to believe that a company that actually brought business strategy to the RPG industry is now so random in its plays.

 

[Greatwyrm]

It's hard to believe that a company that actually brought business strategy to the RPG industry is now so random in its plays.

I wonder if someone in a board room somewhere has a Random Business Encounter Chart.

"Lets see, 2d10. (roll) 17. The chart says we should sue all fan-sites."

"I think that's a second edition chart. Did you get the eratta?"

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

As puzzling as some of their decisions seem to be, I'd rather have them be cautious and decide its a good idea than rush in, get burned, and abandon it. I must say I'm actually considering a couple things off of Drive Thru now that I don't have to put up with DRM.

 

[Crothian]

THe PDF industry is still new. Sure some devoted PDF companies have found success, but moving from print to PDF is something that really hasn't been done and analyzed. Some comapines like Wizards and Green Ronin are slowly seeing what a few releases does for them in PDF. Others like Mongoose seem to be placing lots of older titles on PDF and seeing what happens.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Makes since for them to stick with DRM at the moment. No matter what anyone thinks of it, changing to watermarked PDFs will, as was said, throw a completely new variable into the equation. They're trying to gauge things as they are already, and that would be a bad idea.

Now, that's not to say they won't try out the watermarked PDFs later on...

 

[Alzrius]

I doubt we'll be seeing watermarked PDFs from WotC in the future. Although they're not really any more a measure of protection than DRM is, it still seems that way, since it's easier for a know-nothing pirate to make up a profile with the name "Seymour Butts" and then distribute the watermarked PDF without fear, than it is to break the DRM. That's what I think WotC will think, anyway.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Maybe, but won't there be a trail there — Seymor Butts has to pay for the PDF somehow, which means that credit card or PayPal, there's going to be some identification somewhere. At least in theory.

Nick

 

[TheBadElf]

Maybe, but won't there be a trail there — Seymor Butts has to pay for the PDF somehow, which means that credit card or PayPal, there's going to be some identification somewhere. At least in theory.

Nick

Actually, prepaid Visa cards are available now that seem like they'd be darn near untraceable if the purchaser uses some sort of maildrop address. Not that PDF pirates are likely to go to that much trouble, but the potential for non-traceable credit card purchases seems to be there.