The new 4E PDF's odd changes... [Tues PM: problem fixed]

[Gorrstagg]

Alright so I was excited tonight to go ahead and purchase the Martial Powers pdf. Like usual I was reading the stuff on the website (rpgnow.com) and I saw something odd on the description of the book.

*Copy/Paste disabled.

I must admit, I said "What the Frak?"

The other D&D pdf's I bought from there didn't have this clause, and went ahead and checked it out. Sure enough, none of the original books, or the AV or FRPG have it either.

But the new Martial Power and Draconomicon do. What is going on here, I'm thinking, didn't the Rouse go through and point out that this was going to DRM free pdf's with no other restrictions on the pdf's other than a watermark (i.e. our names inside on each page.) Which I'm fine with, but I'm also paying for something I want to use, and since I make my own power cards for myself and my gaming group, I was looking forward to making a card for every power in this new book.

But without the assurance that what we were told was to be true, and a new addendum indicating we can't do that, with essentially No warning that I'm aware of. I'm perturbed.

What's going on here? Did I miss some announcement? Why are they going back on their word? Is this an erroneous marking on the description pages.

Could someone enlighten me to this please? Obviously I can just buy it as is, and manually typeset my cards individually like I have in photoshop as it is. But I was experimenting with a new copy/paste method to save time. And now they've gone out of the way to ... cut it out. Which means I would have to manually type set a bunch of pages again. Which I'll do more than likely. But that's not my biggest concern.

It's the lack of communication explaining why they were making this change for one, and two why in such a short time they've gone back on their word and are punishing their actual customers.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

A questionable decision (or technical screw-up?) and I hope that customer complaints will make them give this back.

Basically, Copy & Paste is something _only_ PDFs can give you. If they have to sell the PDF at the full price to avoid retailer complaints (which I can understand and accept, even without liking it), they should at least ensure that they use the full capabilities of the PDF.

Or is this an attempt to sell DDI and the Character Builder?

 

[Bagpuss]

I saw something odd on the description of the book.

*Copy/Paste disabled.

with essentially No warning that I'm aware of. I'm perturbed.

You spotted the warning. It's right there in the file description. See above.

 

[Gorrstagg]

Bag, thanks for the smile. *Grin* I meant the new change to the DRM free set up that they put out to us. I'm not sure why this is the case though overall to be honest with you. But again, thanks for the smile.

 

[Jack99]

If this is true, I am done purchasing WotC PDF's, on top of the real books. I hope it's simply a mistake.

 

[Betote]

I always find it funny when companies, in order to "fight piracy", come with products which are actually worse than the pirated ones. This happened when music cds started not working on PCs. That made me initially purchase the originals and, after that, be forced to download it from emule in order to be able to listen to them.

And, let's face it, those pirated copies are going to be around anyway, so let's at least make them not better than the actual copy produced by the company

 

[Daniel D. Fox]

I don't know why WotC wouldn't just enable it. Anyone who is computer savvy can find the workaround easily, and even with the same program you're opening it up with.

 

[Gorrstagg]

To further my point.

The July 9th, 2008 News announcment from the wizards website states.

Wizards of the Coast announces that digital versions of D&D 4th Edition roleplaying game products and supplements will be available for sale as PDF downloads at DriveThruRPG and RPGNow. The products will be DRM-free and watermarked.

I bolded the selection, myself that applies most sufficiently.

But also, I include a quote from wiki.

Digital rights management (DRM) is a generic term that refers to access control technologies used by hardware manufacturers, publishers and copyright holders to limit usage of digital media or devices. Whereas copy protection only attempts to prohibit unauthorized copies of media or files, digital rights management allows the issuer of the media or file to control in detail what can and can not be done with a single instance.

So I ask again what's going on? I'm not a pirate, I want to pay for my copy of the book and go on. But they stated, no DRM. But disabling copy/paste is controlling what I do with the media.

I'm going to end up making power cards for my gaming group, and I'll reproduce each and every power, if I can save some time, I would like that. I'm not doing it for profit... and all the other books were also DRM free. So would really like to know what's going on.

 

[Dire Bare]

So I ask again what's going on? I'm not a pirate, I want to pay for my copy of the book and go on. But they stated, no DRM. But disabling copy/paste is controlling what I do with the media.

I also hope that this is a mistake that is fixed by WotC.

However, it is not DRM. DRM limits your ability to use a document on different computers, so as to combat piracy. Disabling copy/paste has no effect on piracy (other than perhaps it might encourage some).

So, if this is not a mistake, WotC did not "lie" or "go back on their word", they just made a bad choice. Of course, I'm still hoping for mistake rather than bad choice.

Either way, it's a bit early to cry havoc, isn't it? Notify customer service, and if they fix it, then there is no problem. If WotC states that this is indeed intentional and won't enable the feature, then folks can start screaming.

 

[Wisdom Penalty]

If true, that is indeed bad form on WotC.

Can't you just use the Snapshot tool in Adobe to get your power cards?