Ebook DRM

Ebook DRM Protection: which DRM is best for ebooks (epub & PDF)?

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Ebook DRM: protecting ebooks from piracy, copying & sharing

The most popular ebook formats and ebook DRM protection methods

When it comes to protecting your ebooks from piracy or theft, ebook DRM (e-book Digital Rights Management) is probably one of the first things you will think of.

Digital rights management is the only effective security to stop ebook copying and unauthorized distribution, but most systems are poorly implemented.

Many publishing platforms (Amazon Kindle Ebooks, Google Play Books, and Kobo) rely on the protection supported by Adobe Digital Editions (ebook reader software that uses Adobe Content Server for protection) but that has significant flaws. The main one being that the ebook protection can be easily removed.

Here we discuss the most popular ebook formats (epub & PDF), ebook DRM protected content, DRM protection methods (Adobe DRM and PDF DRM), and alternatives to DRM, and explain which is best.

What is DRM in ebooks?

Ebook Digital Rights Management (DRM for short) refers to a series of controls that, at their most basic level, are used to prevent the unauthorized copying, editing, and sharing of content. More advanced DRM solutions additionally prevent screen grabbing, allow publishers to revoke use after a certain date, and more.

How does ebook DRM work?

DRMs vary in their protection mechanisms. Kindle and similar protections work by either wrapping the ebook in DRM code or adding code to the ebook package itself. Amazon designed this modification to stop the user from opening the ebook in anything other than authorized viewers (whether that be on a PC or an e-reader). Most of these viewer applications also try to stop the user from printing, copying, and converting the ebook. The DRM also attempts to stop users from opening the file on unauthorized devices by requiring their device to hold the correct key or be linked to an account with the purchase registered to it.

Standard Adobe PDF protection encrypts an ebook with a unique encryption key which is stored in its encryption dictionary. The user or owner password is then used to recover the encryption key from the dictionary and decrypt the file’s contents, making it viewable again.

As we’ll cover below, however, the poor implementation of most DRM solutions has led to them becoming trivial to remove.

Amazon Kindle, Google Play, and Adobe DRM (epub & PDF)

Kindle readers support five different file formats: MOBI, KFX, AZW, EPUB and PDF. The MOBI, AZW and KFX formats use Amazon’s DRM, whereas EPUB and PDF ebooks are DRM protected using Adobe ADEPT / Adobe Content Server. Google Play uses Adobe DRM.

However, all these DRM protection schemes are really easy to remove:

Type in ‘Kindle DRM’ in Google and the first page of results is full of instructions on how to remove it easily (using a Calibre plugin, converting Kindle to PDF, etc.).
Type in ‘Adobe Digital Editions DRM’ in Google and the entire first page (apart from one for the Adobe site) is covered with instructions on how to easily remove it.

So, you may wonder: what protection are your ebooks actually getting against piracy and theft if the security can be easily removed?

If you trust users not to use ebook DRM removal tools, then you might equally trust them not to share your ebooks with others and therefore have no need to implement DRM security to begin with.

Read How to protect ebooks from sharing and copying to see how easy it is to remove popular ebook DRM formats.

HTML5 and ebook DRM

An alternative to using the above platforms for ebook distribution and protection is using software to generate an HTML5 ebook that can be viewed in the browser.

However, protecting ebooks in a browser is limited. There is no software installed on the client computer to decrypt the content or provide significant control over it once it has been decrypted. Protected content either has to be decrypted on the server and relayed to the client (some bad implementations decrypt straight to disk where it is left available in the cache in plain text) or by using JavaScript in the browser. Each has its limitations.

For instance:

you cannot prevent users from sharing login details and thus ebooks with others
if you allow printing then you cannot prevent users from printing to PDF format and removing all the protection
you cannot prevent screen grabbing
users have to be online
JavaScript can be easily edited in the browser’s debug mode to remove protection

DID YOU KNOW?

Ebook DRM and security issues

Amazon, Apple and Adobe DRM systems have all been broken
Customers have been locked out of using ebooks they purchased due to security updates
Securing ebooks with passwords is useless because users can share them or remove them with password recovery tools
Adobe PDF permissions (stop copy, print etc.) can be easily removed

“We have been looking for years to find a software company that would allow us to securely sell our eBooks. Locklizard offers so many options, we are able to fill the needs of all of our customers. We have used other software providers that had promised the security of our eBooks but they never lived up to that promise the way that Locklizard has.

The support we received has been outstanding. They are very responsive to our requests and go the extra mile.

I would recommend Locklizard if you are looking for secure ebooks.”

Tools to remove ebook DRM

There are many ebook DRM remover tools that work with MOBI, KFX, AZW, EPUB and PDF files. The most popular are:

Calibre and DeDRM plugin – remove the DRM from Adobe Digital Editions and Kindle DRM
Epubor– provides a range of tools to remove the DRM from Adobe Adept (Google Play ebooks), Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Sony & more
EPubsoft ToolBox – remove the DRM from all common ebook formats
Tuneskit – removes Apple DRM (iTunes DRM removal)

You might ask why these ebook DRM removal applications are so successful. It’s simple: the above DRM security has been implemented as an afterthought (and usually rather badly), enabling applications to either plugin to (to access the content as it is decrypted or intercept the decryption keys) or pickup unprotected content that the system has directly cached to disk. This is nothing new – Elcomsoft pointed out the issues with Adobe PDF DRM and other ebook protection methods back in 2000. 20 years on and removing the DRM from ebooks is still trivial. See PDF Security issues and weak DRM implementations for further information.

Adobe’s standard security handler uses RC4 stream cipher, encrypting file content with a unique encryption key. The encryption key is encrypted and stored in the file’s encryption dictionary. Either the user password or owner password can recover the encryption key and decrypt the file content. Removing PDF Passwords covers this subject in more detail.

In 2009 Adobe Digital Editions was broken by i♥cabbages allowing users to remove the DRM protection from Adobe ebooks. They commented “There is very little obfuscation in how Adobe Digital Editions hides and encrypts the per-user RSA key, allowing fairly simple duplication of exactly the same process Digital Editions uses to retrieve it”. 5 years later, in 2014, Adobe released Adobe Content Server 5 which, in their own words, is “A more secure Digital Rights Management scheme to protect EPUB and PDFs from unauthorized viewing. The new hardened DRM solution uses multiple encryption layers with Adobe Licensing server having the control to change the mechanism of encrypted key generation.” Yet still ebook DRM removal products claim to remove it, proving that it does not matter how many layers of encryption you have if it is implemented poorly.

Publishers who implemented the latest edition were also in for a shock. Customers reported losing e-books from their libraries after having upgraded to the latest version.

Sadly, access being denied to PDF documents and ebooks after an Adobe update is not new. Companies that have implemented the Acrobat PDF DRM plugin have also had furious customers unable to access DRM protected PDF files since every time Acrobat is updated the plugin no longer works.

PDF ebook DRM & Adobe PDF DRM

PDF is still the most common format for document distribution since it produces reliable results across all platforms. Adobe PDF DRM, however, is flawed and can be removed easily (just like Adobe PDF password protection and permissions or restrictions).

If you are serious about protecting PDF ebooks from piracy and theft and are happy to provide your own means of distribution (rather than using an ebook publishing platform) then using DRM that does not rely on Adobe (or a third party DRM plugin to Acrobat) is clearly the way forward.

Adobe DRM for Digital Editions – Adobe PDF DRM & ePub DRM

Adobe DRM might be the industry standard but any solution that can be instantly removed is not worth implementing to begin with. And that is before you even consider the costs involved:

Initial software license fee: $10,000
Annual maintenance: $1,500
Development and deployment: $5,000-$10,000
Cost per e-book download: $0.22

Some companies say that DRM that completely secures content must be cumbersome or difficult to use and that their solution strikes the perfect balance between ease of use and security.

Let’s be clear, if the security can be easily removed it is not effective and you are wasting your money. An ebook DRM or PDF DRM system can be secure yet easy to use.

Locklizard ebook DRM – e-book Digital Rights Management to protect ebooks from piracy

Locklizard ebook DRM protects PDF files using strong encryption and DRM controls to ensure your ebooks are protected against simple DRM removal applications. Our DRM protects ebooks in PDF format from piracy, copying and sharing.

We stop printing to PDF, stop screen grabbers and lock ebooks to devices so they cannot be shared. If you don’t want users to install a Viewer, then you can distribute your secure ebooks on a USB stick that includes the Viewer software. Users can then open DRM protected files directly from USB without installing any software. You can publish whole ebook libraries on USB sticks and then later grant access to individual books. You can also add new ebooks as you publish them and you can grant access accordingly.

Locklizard ebook DRM enables you to sell ebooks securely without insecure passwords or plug-ins, and enforce access, location, expiry, and usage controls. Our DRM technology ensures your ebooks remain safe no matter where they reside with US Gov Strength encryption, licensing, and DRM controls. Ebook content is decrypted in memory and no temporary files are used.

Why Locklizard for Ebook DRM (e-book Digital Rights Management)?

Locklizard provides many advantages over Adobe DRM & Amazon & third party ebook DRM systems

No Passwords or Logins
No passwords or login information for users to enter, forget or share, or for you to manage and distribute.
Keys to decrypt ebooks are automatically and transparently securely transferred to authorized devices and locked to them.
PDF ebook format
Protection of PDF files rather than proprietary ebook formats for a consistent display across multiple devices.
DRM Controls
Control ebook use with effective DRM controls:
- Stop screen grabbing
- Stop copying and pasting
- Stop editing and modifying
- Stop printing (or limit the number of prints)
- Expire ebooks after a number of days’ use, views, prints, or on a fixed date
- Revoke ebooks instantly (regardless of where they are) if a chargeback is made
Device & location locking
- Automatically locks ebooks to devices to stop users from sharing your ebooks with others
- Optionally lock ebook use to locations. For example, ban use in specific countries
- Control the number of devices your DRM protected ebook is installed on
Dynamic Watermarks
Add permanent and dynamic watermarks to identify users. Watermarks are inserted automatically at view and/or print time with user-identifiable information to discourage the distribution of photos and photocopies.
You only have to protect your ebook once for all users rather than having to do so individually to display unique user information (name, email, etc.).
Unlike Adobe watermarks, which can be easily removed by selecting them in a PDF Editor, Locklizard watermarks are permanent.
Zero installation Viewers
Publish ebooks securely with zero installation:
- on USB devices (offline use)
- or for viewing in a browser (online use)
Secure Distribution
- Protect ebooks on your local computer – no uploading of unprotected files to a server where they could be easily compromized.
- Distribute protected ebooks just like any other file – upload them to a cloud server, your website, send by email or distribute on CD, USB, etc.
Simple to use
Our ebook DRM software is simple to use – protect ebooks by right-clicking on them in Windows Explorer.
Manage user and ebook access via our cloud-hosted administration system (hosted by us or by you on your own premises).
Automate ebook DRM protection and integrate with your e-commerce system for automated user account creation and ebook access.
Cost Savings
- No charges per ebook sold – just a one-off fee for unlimited ebooks and users
- No development and deployment costs
- Choice of licenses to suit you

Is DRM best for ebooks?

DRM is the only effective security to stop ebook copying and unuathorized distribution

Only DRM can be used to restrict how content is used – not encryption, password protection or onetime links. DRM can stop ebook sharing, content copying and editing, disable printing, and control expiry.

Alternatives to ebook DRM include:

PDF password protection
You protect a PDF ebook with a password and apply limited restrictions over content use. Passwords have to be manually entered so they can be shared with others (and therefore your ebooks) and PDF restrictions can be easily removed.
One-time download links
For each user who purchases your ebook, you provide a unique, single use link. These stop multiple users from downloading ebooks using the same link but do not stop users sharing ebooks with others once they have downloaded them.
File encryption
File encryption software enables you to encrypt any type of file. It is great for protecting ebooks on servers or in transit, but once a user has decrypted the file, they can share it with others (or share the decryption key if it is entered manually or known to the user).
Social DRM or watermarks
If your ebook is not protected with DRM then watermarks can be easily removed. PDF watermarks can be removed in a PDF editor in a single action and a hidden watermark can be removed by either saving them as different file formats or printing to PDF.

So, DRM is best for ebooks, but not all ebook DRM is equal. Some formats provide limited restrictions and have been comprehensively cracked. It’s important to choose your ebook format and ebook DRM solution carefully.

FAQs

Which DRM should I use?

It depends on your requirements and the platform you want to publish on. If you’re set on publishing on Amazon, Kindle DRM may be enough to stop customers who are clueless about technology. However, if you want real, effective protection against ebook piracy, a PDF DRM solution like Locklizard Safeguard is the only real choice.

Is removing the DRM from ebooks illegal?

According to Harvard Business Review, it is illegal in the US to break the DRM of an in-copyright ebook even if it is for personal use. The main exception is if the purchaser is legally blind and cannot reasonably find an accessible version of the ebook.

It is not, however, illegal to tell somebody how to remove DRM from an ebook or point them to tools that allow them to do so. And, because ineffective DRM leaves the chance of getting caught very low, many will follow those instructions.

Do I need DRM on my ebook?

Not necessarily. If you are looking to release content for free or do not care too much about profits, it probably isn’t worth implementing DRM. If you want to make a living out of your ebooks or stop people from claiming your work as their own, however, a good DRM solution is well worth the investment.

Are Amazon ebooks DRM free?

No. The vast majority of Amazon ebooks are not DRM free – they use the company’s Kindle DRM. This includes free works and those that are no longer in copyright. However, the DRM that it does use is easily removed by free tools – and therefore offers very little protection.

What is the best way to add DRM to an ebook?

The best way to protect an ebook is to avoid DRM for common formats like EPUB, MOBI, and AZW and use a PDF DRM solution instead. However, you must take care to choose the right solution because Adobe DRM for ebooks is entirely ineffective.

Customer Testimonials

We needed to deliver e-book versions of our handbooks while not compromising on security and digital rights. Safeguard PDF security is easy to use and intuitive.

The implementation was painless and we now have a greener, more secure way of distributing training manuals.
Locklizard’s PDF protection is exactly as described – the features are highly effective and I would give it 5 stars.

I would recommend Locklizard to others - their security is simple to use and fit for purpose. It meets common needs of businesses who have information they want to protect.
We would be happy to recommend Locklizard to any company needing a flexible way to secure PDF files.

Safeguard PDF Security has provided us with a very workable solution for sharing of information in a secure fashion. The support has been excellent and very accommodating.
We can cut accounts for a user five minutes before his class starts and he is ready to go. Happy smiling customer, while we still have security and personalized watermarking.

I have immense respect for the product and Locklizard provide great customer satisfaction and service.
We would recommend Safeguard to other companies for its security, cost and ease of use. It does what we expected it to do and more.

Ease of use is a bonus and the implementation was very easy. The product manual is excellent and Locklizard staff are very accommodating.
We sell a highly valued educational product in an open and competitive market so it was important to ensure we had effective security to protect our digital rights.

We highly recommend Locklizard - a professional company with a competitive and professional PDF Security product.
We would absolutely recommend both Locklizard as a company, and Safeguard PDF Security. It has transformed our study materials to the next level.

Not only did this increase sales, but we also believe that it has increased our customers’ ability to learn, which is even more important!
We would recommend Locklizard Safeguard to other companies that need to protect PDF reports. Customers have found the process of accessing the protected documents to be seamless.

Implementation was easy and technical support has been very responsive to requests for help.
Our company would without reservation recommend Locklizard. Their document DRM software opens up delivery of our new products in a timely fashion while knowing that the content will remain secure.

The return on investment to our company has been immediately evident.
We use Safeguard to make sure that documents cannot be opened outside our local network or from a unauthorized computer in order to copy or print the documents.

It is the most feature rich, affordable, & simple to use PDF security product on the market.
Safeguard PDF Security is simple to administer and meets our needs, consistently delivering secured manuals to our customers with ease.

Return on investment has been elimination of many man hours, printing resources and postage – it is estimated that costs decreased by 50% or more.
We would really recommend Safeguard PDF Security to every publishing company for managing ePubs or e-books securely. It is easy to secure PDF files and simple to distribute them to our authorized customers only.

Locklizard also provides a good customer support experience.
The ROI for us is incalculable. We have the security of knowing that our proprietary documents are secure. This is the entire value of our company.

I would most certainly recommend your PDF security product and already have. The ease of implementation was surprising.
We can now sell our manuals without the need to print them first, saving time, money and helping safeguard the environment.

We would recommend Safeguard PDF DRM – it is the perfect solution to sell and send e-documents securely whilst making sure someone cannot copy them.
We would recommend Locklizard to other companies without hesitation.

Their PDF DRM products provide a manageable, cost effective way to protect intellectual investment and they are always looking for ways to improve them. Moreover, their staff provide an excellent level of support.

Try Safeguard today

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Ebook DRM

Ebook DRM Protection: which DRM is best for ebooks (epub & PDF)?

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Ebook DRM: protecting ebooks from piracy, copying & sharing

<img decoding="async" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/small_publishers.png" alt="" width="64" height="64" /> The most popular ebook formats and ebook DRM protection methods

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<img decoding="async" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/document-permissions.png" alt="" width="64" height="64" /> How does ebook DRM work?

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Ebook DRM and security issues

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