Digital Rights

DRM or DRM-free? That is the question. And you will have to answer it on the various retail sites where you sell your ebook.

The goal of DRM protection is to prevent unauthorized distribution and copying. In doing so, it restricts the use of the file, making it more difficult for the purchaser to transfer it to various devices. However, places like Barnes & Noble allow for ebooks to be lendable--even with DRM protection. And if you have a retailer's app, you can synch your ebook collection with all of your other devices.

If you choose to sell your ebook DRM-free, it allows the user to transfer the file, manage it more easily, and not be burdened with restrictions. The Electronic Frontier Foundation thinks the use of DRM systems is anti-competitive, and that the rights of the user need legal protection.

I'm sure there are programs out there that can remove DRM protection. And I'm sure that if someone wants a free digital copy of something, they can get it. Does that mean you shouldn't make it a little more challenging? Even for the honest people who buy it? But that keeps them from passing it along, like they could with a print book. The challenge is that it only takes one person to upload it to a file-sharing site like BitTorrent, where it becomes available to everyone for free.

Some people argue that readers will buy their content. And the ones who don't probably never would have in the first place. That may be true, but as someone who grew up in Napster's heyday, it seemed like all young adults were getting music for free. Because it was easy. Because it was accessible. It became the norm.

Music companies have been suing individuals for file-sharing. They argue that they lose billions of dollars a year in lost revenue because of illegal online downloading of their content. Makes you wonder if the same will happen with the big book publishers. And if they end up going after file-sharing sites or consumers.

So, what should you do? DRM or DRM-free? That is a question best answered by you.