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Libraries Use DRM to Expire Audiobooks

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the one-less-reason-to-leave-the-house dept.

Valleye writes "CNN is reporting that some US libraries are using Microsoft Media DRM to automatically 'return' audiobooks checked out of their catalog. A patron with a valid library card visits a library Web site to borrow a title for, say, three weeks. When the audiobook is due, the patron must renew it or find it automatically "returned" in a virtual sense: The file still sits on the patron's computer, but encryption makes it unplayable beyond the borrowing period."

8 of 524 comments (clear)

  1. I wish my library had this by benna · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would certainly read (or listen) more that way.

    --
    "It is not how things are in the world that is mystical, but that it exists." -Ludwig Wittgenstein
    1. Re:I wish my library had this by tacocat · · Score: 4, Funny

      I would think this is a major detraction from my libraries largest source of income, me and late fees.

  2. Re:But... by postgrep · · Score: 2, Funny

    Very lucky you. Here in Australia, it's technically illegal to video tape things off tv. Despite the fact that VHS is now played off as "dead".

  3. Re:Clearly Nessisary by The+Wooden+Badger · · Score: 2, Funny

    So it's your fault I couldn't read the post! thanks for "inconviencing" everyone!

    --
    Heroscape, it's like legos combined with anachronistic wargames.
  4. Whew... by Edward+Teach · · Score: 4, Funny

    It is a good thing no one can hook the audio out to a tape recorder. Man, we would be in real trouble then!

    --

    Setting his threshold to 5, Sparky eliminated most of the trolls on /.

  5. Re:What is the problem.. by LordLucless · · Score: 2, Funny

    Audiobooks... I can't figure out what the problem is with reading...

    It's hard to see on-coming traffic while doing it.

    --
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
  6. My favorite DRM exploit. . . by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: 2, Funny
    In one of the several Miles Vorkosigan novels, the Ender-like genius needed a file from a military protected computer system. He was assured that there was simply no way to by-pass the high level protection system. A file will simply not leave the computer it is on unless the user had the correct authority, etc.

    This was just a minor blip in Mile's day (to paraphrase); "What? But I absolutely need to read that file. Can't you just send it to me?" (This is over a telecom system. He was phoning from deep space or somewhere to a buddy in mission control.)

    "Sorry, Miles. There's just no way. This file will simply not leave this terminal."

    "Well. . ." Miles thought. "Why don't you just turn the terminal around so that it faces the vid camera, and I can just read it from here."

    "Hm. Okay."

    Done and done. He earned a commendation for that one. The security chiefs in sci-fi books aren't very bright, it seems.


    -FL

  7. Re:DRM by jurt1235 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Buy an DRM-WMA enabled car stereo system. The bad part I guess will be that once your book expires, your car will stop too (-:

    --

    My wife's sketchblog Blob[p]: Gastrono-me