Amazon Uses DMCA To Restrict Ebook Purchases

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."

Re:Kindle is a piece of shit

[Anonymous Coward]

and so are you slashdot fags!

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

Progress

[TTURabble]

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

Link

[sakdoctor]

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

Re:Have to hand it to Amazon

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

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.

Re:Kindle is a piece of shit

[Anonymous Coward]

You must be new here. (etc)

Re:DMCA TAKEDOWN!

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Re:Lets boycott the thing I was never gona buy!

[Locke2005]

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.

Re:Progress

[DrLang21]

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

Re:Whoops

[jw3]

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

Re:Exactly

[zmollusc]

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!

Re:I love my Kindle

[cryfreedomlove]

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.

Remember Kids...

[BlueStrat]

Remember kids,

"Don't swindle that Kindle!"

Re:DMCA TAKEDOWN!

[Anonymous Coward]

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