I started my 2nd Summer semester classes last week. The only book I needed was for my History 1301 class. US History up to 1865. There’s a lot to read so I looked for options. The actual paper book retails brand new at $105.10 at BigWords.com. I found some cheaper ones online at BigWords.com and Amazon, but the semester is only 5 weeks and I dont want to get the book halfway through. (And no, I don’t RENT books, you’ll see why…)

I checked Craigslist and didn’t find anything for the volume I needed, but did find some sexy maids with penises. In my Speech closs a few weeks ago I managed to find the text book in pdf format and spread it around with my classmates. I think the book was downloaded about 30 times. Which is odd because there was only about 20 people in my class. Unfortunately I didn’t find this particular text book online. And I have some great sources for file sharing. GREAT.

I went to the text book publisher’s website and saw they sold the book online as an ebook. They had two versions. The “web book” is $38.00 and the “downloadable” e-book is also the same price. The web book requires you to view the book on your browser with an active internet connection. I have WiFi at home but I wanted the downloadable one so I could upload it to my new Barnes & Noble Nook ebook reader. Makes sense right? “Ebook…. meet Ebook reader”. Love at first sight! 

But I wanted to be sure. I’m not stupid. Not to mention every page on their website mentions there are NO REFUNDS ON E-BOOKS. These things can’t be so easy, if they were they wouldn’t need to put NO REFUNDS ON E-BOOKS everywhere.

So I opened a support ticket on the publisher’s website and asked if the ebook was compatible with Nook. Here is the threaded support ticket:

ME: I was wondering if the ebooks are compatible with the Nook ebook reader. I have downloaded other books from Adobe Digitial Edition and some do not transfer because of DRM restrictions. But I only want to purchase the book if I can add it to my Nook. Not just read it on my computer using Adobe Digital Editions. Thank you.

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SUPPORT: Hi Charlie

I’m sorry our e-books can only work on a PC or Mac.

Regards
Benson

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ME: So the ebooks are not compatible with ebook readers?

What file format are they? pdf, epub, txt, html or something else?

Can you tell me if there are DRM restrictions on them?

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SUPPORT: Hi Charlie. Our downloadable e-books require Adobe Digital Editions and have DRM restrictions and is limited to one device only.

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ME: What file format are they?

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SUPPORT: Hi Charlie. They’re in PDF format.

Delema delema.I wanted to put this e-book in my brand new Nook. But now knowing that I couldn’t I waited a couple of days to think about it. But the more I went to class the more I realized I didn’t have time to dick around and I caved in and bought the e-book. Good bye $38! I need to get my edumacation on.

I paid for the e-book and downloaded the file following the instructions on the screen. I already had Adobe Digital Editions on my netbook and it opened the program itself… then it downloaded the e-book…

INTERUPTION RANT: Sorry, I think at this point an e-book (same with any digital media file) should be yours, once you buy it, to do with it what you wish. NOT only accessible on some asshole’s server that requires you to log into or limited to a specific number of devices you can use it on. GREEDY FUCK CUNTS.

Anyway, Digital Editions downloaded the e-book… BUT… That’s when I got this…

FUCK!

I tried again and again.

FUCK AGAIN!

All I can think of is NO REFUNDS as stated on their website.

Okay, I thought I did my homework on this and still felt okay buying it, THINKING IT WOULD WORK. I understand that I require Adobe Digital Editions to read it and that it WOULDN’T be compatible with my Nook, according to the support tech. I also learned that there is a DRM restriction that comes along with the book. DRM is Digital Rights Media. It’s a form of copyright restriction that limits how a digital file can be viewed, distributed, and copied. Basically it means “…if you buy this digital shit from us, we still own it. And you have to follow our rules to use it. Because it’s not yours, even though you paid for it.” 

So I returned to the support ticket and have requested a refund. Will it happen? Who knows? I don’t have time to find out. I have a quiz in two days. So I managed to pull the data from the e-book in the Digital Editions temp download folder, convert it to a manageable format (pdf), then I broke the DRM and converted it to a DRM FREE E-Pub file (standard e-book format) and distribute & copy it  to my

1.) NOOK
2.) Netbook
3.) My server
4.) Google Docs

Now because of this “hacking” I actually now OWN my text book, THAT I PAID FOR. Now I plan on freely distributing this e-book for anyone that needs it in the future. HACK THE WORLD! :p

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