Here's an article discussion it
www.spannet.org/page/apple-ibookstore-no...
The iBookstore Online Application.
itunesconnect.apple.com/WebObjects/iTune...
iBooks sore PDF support.
www.apple.com/iphone/features/ibooks.htm...
I have all my books in hard copy. I won't repurchase them again in PDF, as much as I really would love a copy electronically.
Move to Canada, then you don't have to
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To me, it sounds like a contractual agreement that was made by Wizards with its distributors that does not permit Wizards to sell their published product (which would include PDFs) directly. It is a common arrangement that is made in the business world which allows Wizards to sell mass amounts of product (at a reduced rate) to these distributors.
I am sure that some of this parallels the DDI decisions that are made by Wizards and the long droughts of little information as well as perceived lack of progress. They have to make sure that nothing they are providing to us digitally breaches that contract, let alone the trust with those distributors.
I know that for the company I work for, we introduced an internet solution for our client/server product, and we had to jump through hoops to ensure to our distributors that we were not pulling the rug out from under them, and that the new product would not impact their company.
When you see websites with "Find a retailer" instead of "Buy Now" this is typically the biggest reason why.
To me, it sounds like a contractual agreement that was made by Wizards with its distributors that does not permit Wizards to sell their published product (which would include PDFs) directly. It is a common arrangement that is made in the business world which allows Wizards to sell mass amounts of product (at a reduced rate) to these distributors.
I am sure that some of this parallels the DDI decisions that are made by Wizards and the long droughts of little information as well as perceived lack of progress. They have to make sure that nothing they are providing to us digitally breaches that contract, let alone the trust with those distributors.
I know that for the company I work for, we introduced an internet solution for our client/server product, and we had to jump through hoops to ensure to our distributors that we were not pulling the rug out from under them, and that the new product would not impact their company.
When you see websites with "Find a retailer" instead of "Buy Now" this is typically the biggest reason why.
WotC didn't know what do to about piracy and pulled everything during the lawsuits they launched. They pretty much said so themselves.
Now, I understand why they did it even if I don't like it. The silly thing is they haven't made any positive moves since then. Why not use something like Adobe Digital Editions to try to manage licenses (although I'm sure that can be hacked, too)? Marvel is pretty paranoid about their IP, but they even offer a "reading room" service where you can view tons of their current and past titles online.
Solutions are out there*. Someone just needs to pick one.
*I don't necessarily think it was a problem that needed solving, but that's been beaten to death in other threads.
PS - I have no idea why this is all in bold. I can't seem to turn it off.
Why not use something like Adobe Digital Editions to try to manage licenses (although I'm sure that can be hacked, too)?
Digital Editions security can be removed with six mouse clicks (and that includes the clicks required to open and close the app that does it). It is, of course, illegal to do so unless you live somewhere without a DCMA equivalent (such as Canada or Poland).
There is no known solution for piracy except to be so bad or so obscure that nobody has any interest in providing your product for download, and neither of those are suitable options. The best they can do is go back to what they were doing (at least then they'd be getting revenue from the people who are willing to pay for the PDFs) and do their best to pursue legal options for the most egregious offenders (if they can catch them, and make their lawsuits stick - which would require their legal department to actually be sufficiently savvy in international law, which I understand they aren't).