1. DRM: A Publisher-Imposed Impediment to
Progress, or a Legitimate Defense of
Publisher/Author Intellectual Property Rights?
J IM DOOLEY (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA / MERCED)
ZAC ROLNIK (NOW PUBLISHERS)
ADAM CHESLER (BUSINESS EXPERT PRESS / MOMENTUM PRESS)
DAVID PARKER (ALEXANDER STREET PRESS)
2014 Charleston Conference

2. Jim Dooley
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA / MERCED

3. Digital Rights Management (DRM)
 DRM is a set of access control technologies used by hardware
manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to control
the use of digital content after sale.
 The intent is to control executing, viewing, copying, printing and
altering of works or devices.
--Wikipedia

4. Results of Multiple DRM Regimes
 On library users
 On librarians

5. DRM and Libraries
 Prevents preservation and archiving of content
 Prevents legitimate uses under Copyright Act-”Fair Use”
 Publisher marketing tactic
 Part of criteria for evaluation of offers

6. Zac Rolnik
NOW PUBLISHERS

7. DRM – Do We Need It?
 Maximizing Access vs Controlling Access
 The Impact on the User Experience
 The Cost to Implement and Manage
 Is Some Seepage of Content OK/Good?

8. DRM – Do We Need It?
 DRM in the STM space
 Elsevier, Springer, Wiley-Blackwell DRM free eBooks
 Big Deals
 Open Access
 Fair Use

9. Adam Chesler
BUSINESS EXPERT PRESS / MOMENTUM PRESS

10. Why DRM?
 Protection of assets / risk management
 Usage evaluation
 Control over distribution
‣ Additional sales opportunities

11. The Administrative Ramifications of DRM
 Licensing / Legal
 Technology
 Auditing / Security
‣ users
‣ partners
 Sales
 Costs

12. David Parker
ALEXANDER STREET PRESS

13. The Downsides of DRM for Authors
1. DRM/Ebook Reader Platforms Restricts Knowledge Sharing:
"The platform allows content to be downloaded, printed, cited,
shared through numerous social media sites and commented
upon by registered users. “ - A typical description of an open-access
platform.
2. DRM Perpetuates a Pricing Model Driven by Print: Pricing
untethered from “fear of lost single unit sales” should be the
norm for ebooks rather than the exception.
3. Piracy and Unauthorized File Sharing of Scholarly and Learning-
Oriented Ebooks is not Pervasive …: The music industry has
been instructive but the fear and concern have been overstated
to authors.

14. Contact
 Jim Dooley: jdooley@ucmerced.edu
 Zac Rolnik: zac.rolnik@nowpublishers.com
 Adam Chesler: adam.chesler@businessexpertpress.com
 David Parker: dparker@alexanderstreet.com