Brit cracks Microsoft's e-book software

NEWS

A British programmer has released software online that is said to dismantle the anticopying technology in the Microsoft Reader e-book software, setting up another potential confrontation in the digital piracy wars. Independent programmer Dan Jackson has posted the program and its source code on his Web site, saying that he's working with the software's original creator, who wishes to remain anonymous. Although rumours of software that strips Microsoft's copy protection away from its e-book files have circulated before, this appears to be the first time such a program has been made available to the public. Jackson says he's responding to what he sees as serious flaws in the Reader software, and is not driven by any particular ideological motivation. He has an early-generation handheld computer that can't read modern Microsoft e-book files, and simply wanted a way to use the hardware he'd already purchased, he said in an interview conducted by instant messenger. "I thought that I couldn't possibly be the only one wanting to be able to read e-books on (older) platforms," Jackson said. He also noted that text-to-speech applications would not work with the Reader software, and that putting the files in alternative formats could aid readers with disabilities. A Microsoft spokesman said the company was aware of the software and had contacted publishers to notify them about it. The company said it did not yet have a fix that would block the software's use, but was looking at all its "short- and long-term options" -- including legal action. "We are investigating all the business, technical and legal ramifications," Microsoft spokesman Jon Murchinson said. The release is the latest in a string of reports of supposedly secure file formats being cracked by outside programmers. Few experts believe that any digital rights management technology is wholly secure, and Microsoft employees have often conceded that dedicated crackers are likely to break through any such technological protections, given enough time. Nevertheless, legal action has often followed such releases as companies try to minimise the effects of the cracked copy-protection. Indeed, the release of Jackson's software raises shades of an earlier legal case, in which Russian researcher Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested by FBI agents after he worked on a piece of commercial software that broke similar copy restrictions for Adobe's e-book software. In that case, the programmer's Russian employer, a company called ElcomSoft, was ultimately brought to criminal trial in the United States. A jury recently acquitted the company, deciding it had not intended to break US law. Jackson said he hadn't yet been contacted by Microsoft or any of the publishers. The program itself, dubbed Convert Lit (Lit is the name of the file format produced by the Reader software), works in several stages. The first stage of the process must be performed on the same computer that holds the original, activated version of the e-book file. After that stage, the transformed file can be moved to other computers. When the final conversion is done, all restrictions on copying and use can be stripped out of the file, allowing it to be copied or redistributed. Microsoft's Reader is the centrepiece of the company's attempt to match Adobe's near-ubiquitous Acrobat software, which has evolved into a de facto standard for distributing documents online -- and is increasingly being used to distribute books in electronic form. According to Microsoft, 13,000 book titles in its Reader format are commercially available, distributed by bookstores such as Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Sales of e-books remain an infinitesimal portion of publishers' revenues, although technology companies, including Microsoft, hope that new tablet PCs and other portable devices will help jump-start the market during the next few years.

For all security-related news, including updates on the latest viruses, hacking exploits and patches, check out ZDNet UK's Security News Section. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

Isn't the provision of a text based search an admission by the developers that the mass of icons approach does not work? I don't need to use a...

1 hour ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

"Unity and GNOME 3 both abandon the old text-based cascading menus in favour of a graphical icon-driven system." Point truly missed. Both use a...

2 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

whs001 - Thank you, I'm glad you liked the article. I absolutely agree with you on your first point. I should perhaps have made it clearer that...

2 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

If we allow corporate interest to dictate the way our government circumvents due process against foreign entities then we should accept the same...

3 hours ago by Dennis Nilsson via Facebook on ACTA stumbles in Germany

I totally dislike pirating of works, I fear that artists will be deterred from creating works if they think that they are going to get ripped off....

5 hours ago by GHar123 on ACTA stumbles in Germany

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

10 hours ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

12 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

12 hours ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

14 hours ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

15 hours ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

15 hours ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

16 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

16 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

17 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

17 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

17 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

17 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

18 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

21 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

22 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Brit cracks Microsoft's e-book software

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

DMCA case verdict: Not guilty

Programmer hacks Microsoft e-book code

Perens: Linux could learn from Apple

Post your comment

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Application Development

Perens: Linux could learn from Apple

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Solutions Architect - Oxford - publishing

Project/ImplementationManager - homebased - DataWarehouse/BI

Project/Implementation Manager-homebased-Data Warehouse/BI

Inside ZDNet UK

A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

2012 Predictions: VCE FastPath, VI SAN Probe & Hadoop

BlackBerry Bold 9790

How to handle data replication

Ten factors that make Ubuntu 11.10 a hit

Toshiba Portégé Z830-10P Review

BT's archive: Pictures from the vault

News & Analysis

Reviews

Blogs

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features

ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Application Development

Brit cracks Microsoft's e-book software

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Post your comment

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Application Development

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Inside ZDNet UK

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features