Complete guide on ePUB DRM security

Why Do You Need DRM for ePUB?

While there are different eBook formats like ePUB, MOBI, and PDF, ePUB is one of the more popular formats. The format the consumer gets depends on which platform they buy the eBook from and which device they are reading it on. 

Digital publishing offers a great way for content creators and authors to publish their work and reach a wider audience. It also allows content to be easily accessed through devices as well as eBooks in the cloud. However, online material is more difficult to regulate and faces many issues with unauthorized access.

Once your ePUB is published online, you do not have much control over it unless steps are taken to protect eBooks from being downloaded. ePUB DRM provides an extra layer of security that protects an eBook and provides a barrier to safeguard artistic property.

What Does ePUB DRM Do? 

DRM prevents users from copying, printing, and sharing eBooks when they are not authorized to do so. This protects the sales and revenues that come in with each sale of an eBook.

ePUB DRM allows you to regulate how an eBook is used, when, and by whom. This ensures that people keep buying your book.

DRM can help protect your ePUB in the following ways: 

1. It helps restrict the distribution, download, and upload of eBooks as well as accessing and borrowing of the ePUB.
2. It helps control how many devices a person can download the ePUB onto.
3. It helps restrict or prevent the copy-paste function from being used on an ePUB.

What are the Benefits of DRM for ePUB? 

DRM offers various benefits for ePUB. These include the following:

1. Prevent Loss of Sales 

One of the major benefits of publishing online is the reduced cost of publishing. What’s more, you can make any number of copies without any additional costs. However, it opens up the risk of sharing copyrighted content, and this can lead to a loss of sales and revenue.

DRM enables you to protect your ePUB from this. All the value of online publishing can be lost if your ePUB is not copyright protected. With DRM protection, you ensure that you get paid and benefit from your ePUB eBook copyright.

2. Safeguard Intellectual Property

ePUB DRM allows you to restrict who downloads and views your content. It also enables you to set a limit on how long the ePUB is open to viewing by them.

Once the time limit has been crossed, the person who bought the copyrighted eBook will not be able to view it. 

3. Meet Regulatory Requirements

When confidential information like personal data is involved, you have to ensure that it is safeguarded and not accessed by unauthorized persons.

If you are sharing digital content for business purposes, you may need to only provide authorized access to certain people.

ePUB DRM protection helps you ensure this data confidentiality and share or distribute the information with the right people without leakage. 

How Does DRM Work?

Most online platforms that sell eBooks or digital content in ePUB format will usually have their own ePUB DRM. A content creator or digital author can send the ePUB to the website, and the required DRM will be applied as a program.

The digital content creator does not have to do anything. You can check the DRM protection provided by the platform to ensure that it protects against copyright infringement. 

DRM controls how you can share your eBook not just online but also between users and devices. When you have a proprietary format of ePUB DRM, it prevents users or buyers from sharing a purchased eBook with multiple people.

Moreover, eBooks with DRMs from different providers are often incompatible with other DRM systems.

It is important to determine whether you are going to use DRM for your ePUB because certain distributors do not support it, and others have their own.

Many online platforms that sell eBooks also have e-readers. When someone buys an e-reader from the platform, they are usually required to purchase the eBooks from the same platform or provider. 

What are Top DRMs Available Right Now?

Some of the major DRMs available for eBooks are as follows:

1. Adobe’s DRM

Adobe’s DRM is called ADEPT, and it supports ePUBs and PDF file formats for eBooks. You can access it through eBook readers such as Adobe’s own Digital Editions as well as third-party e-readers. 

2. Amazon’s DRM

Amazon applies its DRM on any eBook that is submitted to it for distribution. This is good to keep in mind because an eBook with a DRM of one provider is usually not compatible with a DRM system of another provider. 

3. Apple’s DRM

Apple’s DRM is called FairPlay, and it is applied when an eBook is distributed or sold through iBooks.

When a person purchases an eBook through iBooks, Apple’s DRM prevents them from reading it on any other device apart from an Apple device. In this way, DRM providers usually ensure that the eBook with their DRM can be read on their devices. 

4. Marlin DRM 

This DRM is developed by a company called Marlin Developer Community. eBooks with this DRM protection can be accessed on iOS and Android systems. 

5. KITABOO’s DRM

With Kitaboo, your content is distributed securely. It is DRM-protected and encrypted. Anyone who wants to use it will need to have a unique access code. Additionally, it can easily integrate with your LMS or eStore. 

Wrapping Up

A DRM for your ePUB is a great way to ensure that you secure your intellectual property rights for your digital content. 

Getting an ePUB DRM prevents your eBook from being misused, misappropriated, or simply accessed without due payment. It’s a great way to ensure that you safeguard your work from the risks of online publishing.