[LINK] E-books: 'E is for Evil'

[Roger Clarke]

[I just tripped over this useful article by a copyright-history 
specialist.  I've only shown the headings.]

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2010
E is for evil
http://sarabannerman.blogspot.com/2010/01/e-is-for-evil.html

E-books aren't evil necessarily. They can be a convenient way to 
read, and digital books will make an enormous wealth of literature 
and knowledge available. But there are some important downsides. 
Here's a summary.

There are a number of great benefits to e-books, especially from an 
academic perspective:
*   Access ...
*   Markability ...
*   Read-aloud ...
*   Storage ...
*   Library books ...
*   Competition ...
*   Newspapers and magazines ...
*   Royalties ...
*   Circumventing censorship ...

However, there are also a number of downsides:
*   Online E-books ...
*   DRM ...
*   Open Source Software ...
*   Vertical tying ...
*   Disappearing e-books ...
*   Copyright term ...
*   Software limitations ...
*   Format ...
*   Accessibility ...
*   Price of books ...
*   Price of technology ...
*   Jobs ...
*   Environment ...
*   Troubleshooting ...

Let me know what I've missed...

-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University