Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Amazon Uses DMCA To Restrict Ebook Purchases

Posted by timothy on from the do-not-read-this-dept-line dept.

InlawBiker writes "Today, Amazon invoked the DMCA to force removal of a python script and instructions from the mobileread web site. The script is used to identify the Kindle's internal ID number, which can be used to enable non-Amazon purchased books to work on the Kindle. '...this week we received a DMCA take-down notice from Amazon requesting the removal of the tool kindlepid.py and instructions for it. Although we never hosted this tool (contrary to their claim), nor believe that this tool is used to remove technological measures (contrary to their claim), we decided, due to the vagueness of the DMCA law and our intention to remain in good relation with Amazon, to voluntarily follow their request and remove links and detailed instructions related to it.' Ironically, the purpose of the script is to make the Kindle more useful to its users."

13 of 409 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Kindle is a piece of shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    and so are you slashdot fags!

    Grow up and quit name calling, we're not in kindlegarten anymore!

  2. Progress by TTURabble · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/3/9/

    1. Re:Progress by DrLang21 · · Score: 3, Funny

      All lies. Data contained in books deteriorates over time. As proof, how many books do we have from the 1st century AD?

      --
      I see the glass as full with a FoS of 2.
  3. Link by sakdoctor · · Score: 2, Funny

    Post the link here otherwise I can't make an informed opinion.

  4. Re:Have to hand it to Amazon by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Funny

    In Amazon's case, they don't actually have a lot of balls, because inventory is costly; but their highly optimized JIT supply chain management practices apparently allow them to order the balls they need, when they need them, on very short notice.

  5. Re:Kindle is a piece of shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You must be new here. (etc)

  6. Re:DMCA TAKEDOWN! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Here's another one with the code in question:
    http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf

  7. Re:Lets boycott the thing I was never gona buy! by Locke2005 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Fuck the Kindle though. Umm... it is pretty much the wrong shape to make that use of it even remotely possible. Trust me, I've tried! And besides which, if I actually did find a way to follow your suggestion, Amazon would quickly issue a take down notice prohibiting me from making such creative use of the Kindle.

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  8. Re:Whoops by jw3 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Funny. I have never heard about the Streisand Effect until someone mentioned it on Slashdot :-) j.

  9. Re:Exactly by zmollusc · · Score: 2, Funny

    Neato! And xpdf is already installed on this machine, but i only used the viewer :-)
    You learn something new every day when you are a thick git!

    --
    They whose government reduces their essential liberties for temporary security, receive neither liberty nor security.
  10. Re:I love my Kindle by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't care about DRM-free. I like my Kindle and the easiest way to put book on it is at Amazon. I also think the user review network effect at Amazon is the best and most trustworthy that I have seen. I'm staying put because it meets my needs.

  11. Remember Kids... by BlueStrat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Remember kids,

    "Don't swindle that Kindle!"

    --
    Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
  12. Re:DMCA TAKEDOWN! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I hope a ton of people pick this up, host it, and thumb their noses at Amazon. I'm too afraid to.