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Responding to a tweet about DRM being ‘cracked’ on Amazon’s Kindle made me realise why DRM is not the answer we need to protect book revenues.

What we actually need to do is to make buying an ebook as easy and risk-free as illegally copying it. Think itunes store. Right now, there is no standard and portable format for ebooks. This means that potential buyers have to hope their chosen format will outlive the device they initially purchase it for.

The second problem publishers need to address is that of pricing. People who have bought ebook readers have laid out a substantial sum, and in doing so have all but eliminated publisher’s future distribution costs. Why then are they paying the same, or more than the price of a paperback? A more palatable price would quickly get people in the habit of buying (rather than copying) ebooks, just as happened with MP3s.

There are many other pricing models. What about a free ebook reader, supported by a monthly subscription? This would get the new format into people’s hands quickly, with less initial cost, but still commit them to buying ebooks regularly. This model makes even more sense for newspapers.

How long will it take publishers to catch on? Editorial technology becomes obsolete every decade or so, but the basic product hasn’t changed. Let’s get on with it!

Nice article from Simon Jenkins, questioning our assumed right to travel. I think he makes some great points:

…the government pursues a policy of closing such local institutions as primary schools, cottage hospitals and post offices and encouraging out of town shopping and rural housing estates. All lead to an increase in the need for motor travel. If a hospital visit requires a drive of 50 rather than five miles, the NHS does not pay but someone does; indeed everyone does.

At the height of this year’s recession, the only industry accorded the lifebelt of direct subsidy, courtesy of Lord Mandelson, was cars. They alone were protected from the plunge in general demand orchestrated by Alistair Darling to find money to rescue his beloved banks. I noticed no bicycle scrappage scheme, let alone a walking-boot one.

As Jenkins points out , because ‘hypermobility’, though damaging, is a token of our freedom, no politician will touch it.

But I agree with the commenter who wondered if Jenkins would press his wisdom on those queuing at airports, etc…

And I am a little hypocritical in recommending this piece, since we catch the train to Norfolk this evening.