How to remove DRM from ebooks

[any ANONYMOUS forum user]

There are a number of different book formats with their own drm and the steps to remove that drm only exist for a subset of them, and depend on which format.

So, first ask yourself the following – Why am I trying to remove the DRM? If it is to make anything other than personal use backup copies or to convert it so that your specific reading device can read it, then no one here will be willing to help.

Assuming you just want to convert for your specific reader and for fair use backup then …

1. Most of the conversion tools are written in python and the version of python you need plus the libraries depend on platform. I would look for python 2.6 and get the appropriate version of python for your platform (For both x32 and x64 versions of Windows I recommend to use Pythong x32) and install it and make sure it works. There are links to where to find platform for your platform (for Mac OSX it is already installed) in many places on the web.
   
2. Then download and install calibre (which is written in python) and it will handle almost any conversion you need once the DRM has been removed (google is your friend – so just search for it).
   
3. Then determine which format of e-book you have:
   
   1. Remove DRM from .ePub ebook with Adobe Digital editions DRM using ineptkey.pyw and ineptepub.pyw
      
   2. Remove DRM from .ePub ebook from Barnes & Noble (B&N)
      
   3. Remove DRM from eReader .pdb ebook using erdr2pml
      
   4. Remove DRM from Mobipocket ebooks using mobidedrm.py
      
   5. if you have the old Sony DRM files, then you are pretty much out of luck cause they were never broken (and probably never will be since Sony has given up on them in favor of Adobe Digital editions DRM-protected ePub files). Your best bet is to get on the new Sony store and download ePub versions of those files if you still can.
      
   6. How to remove DRM from Amazon Kindle Original ebook using kindlefix.py and kindlepid.py and the mobidedrm.py.
      How to remove DRM from Topaz .AZW1 ebooks
      Removing DRM protection from Kindle for PC ebooks using unswindle
      Remove DRM from KindleForPC ebooks using skindle
      DeDRM AppleScript for Mac OS X
   7. Remove DRM from PDF ebooks
   8. How to remove DRM from MS Reader (.LIT ebooks)
   9. There are still other file formats (Lit, etc) that exist and there may or may not be drm solutions for those formats. I have pretty much fouced only on the current popular ones above. I am sure others can point you in the right directions.
4. As you can see, the various players in the ebook world, have made a huge mess of things and these companies will now fight a 2 to 3 year war to see who will win in the end. This is the fun part to watch how long it takes the publishing industry to realize that the whole paradigm has to change and that they need to move with it and not fight it and make the change first!
   
5. Most of the tools are not easy to use if you are not familiar with using the command line (although some nice people have packaged up some of these into more user friendly versions).
   
6. No one is going to provide you with step by step directions most probably. You must be willing to go out and experiment and try things.
   
7. Please understand, that in some countries, removing the DRM is against the law (or at least the publishers claim this). Others view DRM removal as allowed under "fair use" to make backups and to move your books to other formats. But this has never been tested in court and no one here wants to be a test subject …
   
   SO DON'T USE THESE PROGRAMS TO STEAL.

That is the overview anyway.