Gather ’round, children, and let me tell you a story about the old bugaboo we used to call DRM. Digital Rights Management was the beast under every gamer’s bed in the mid-2000s, an invisible bit of software baked into game discs that dictated and tracked player behavior under the guise of preventing piracy. DRM software, like SecuROM, limited the times a game could be downloaded and forced players to regularly connect to the internet for authentication checks, at a time when less than half of American adults had reliable broadband connections. DRM features soured the releases of BioShock, Mass Effect and Spore, and by 2010, anti-piracy software had rendered Assassin’s Creed 2 and Splinter-Cell: Conviction unplayable. When Microsoft attempted to release the Xbox One with always-on DRM features in 2013, intense vitriol from fans forced the company to reverse its plans at the 11th hour. There were lawsuits. DRM was a curse word. Meanwhile, Valve was building out Steam. When it landed in 2003, the digital PC storefront was designed to streamline the patch process for games like Counter-Strike and make it easier for Valve to implement anti-piracy and anti-cheat measures. Steam was made to be a DRM machine. In 2004, with the release of Half-Life 2, Valve made Steam a requirement for every player, and even those who’d purchased new, physical copies of the game had to boot up the launcher first. There was some low-level grumbling, but PC players were used to being lab rats, and... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2024-03-04 16:30:21 UTC ]
For scholars, the loss recalled those of the libraries of Alexandria, Timbuktu and Rio Continue reading at The Economist
[ The Economist | 2021-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For scholars, the loss recalled those of the libraries of Alexandria, Timbuktu and Rio Continue reading at The Economist
[ The Economist | 2021-06-17 14:58:23 UTC ]
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John Eldred, president and owner of Midwest Tape, died on May 27. In a thoughtful remembrance shared with PW, Jeff Jankowski, Eldred's partner for over 30 years at Midwest Tape, recalled Eldred as a beloved friend who combined his passion for libraries with his love for history, movies,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Libraries traditionally played a Spotify-esque role for physical books, but legal barriers have made it largely impossible to do with e-books. Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2021-06-07 09:40:00 UTC ]
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The new release is 'World Book Capital' and proceeds from is sales go to damaged bookshops and libraries in Gaza. The post Bodour Al Qasimi Launches Her Book at Sharjah Children’s Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-26 19:57:39 UTC ]
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In his May 25 keynote at the U.S. Book Show's Libraries Are Essential program, author and sociologist Eric Klinenberg called libraries "the best exemplars of our collective life," arguing that strong libraries will be key to the nation's recovery after a historically challenging year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Arts Council England has announced the details of a £42m fund to boost local libraries, creative projects and museums across the country. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-24 06:43:36 UTC ]
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The deal represents a major step forward for the digital library market. Not only is Amazon Publishing finally making its digital content available to libraries, the deal also gives libraries a range of models through which it can license the content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The U.S. Book Show’s opening seminar will offer attendees a look at challenges and opportunities for libraries in 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Youth Libraries Group (YLG) is partnering with Children’s Books North (CBN) for the first Great Northern Meet-up virtual conference this week. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-10 17:33:22 UTC ]
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Knowledge Unlatched seeks cooperation from a widening array of libraries in converting more agreements and titles to open access. The post Germany’s Knowledge Unlatched Starts Its 2021 Open Access Funding Round appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-04 15:14:44 UTC ]
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For Teacher Appreciation Week, help fund these classroom library and literacy projects in deserving classrooms! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-05-03 10:42:00 UTC ]
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Love books? How about libraries? These libraries that look like books combine two of every readers' favorite things in bookish architecture. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-04-29 10:32:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House senior v-p Skip Dye said the move to unify the publisher's library sales and library marketing groups will foster "even more mutually advantageous and enjoyable relationships with our libraries and librarians nationwide." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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When Book Trust asked Firefly to support the UK Children’s Laureate campaign to increase funding for primary school libraries, I was delighted. Not just because I went to a school with a library, and sneaking off there on a rainy break-time was one of the treats of my school day! I also hoped... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-04-19 21:31:38 UTC ]
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Face masks and social distancing will be enforced. Signs will direct foot traffic, and furniture and bookshelves have been reorganized. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-04-16 15:00:47 UTC ]
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Under the terms of its program, which PRH began more than a year ago, libraries have the option to license e-books and digital audio for one-year terms at a 50% prorated price as an alternative to the existing two-year term (for e-books) or perpetual access (for digital audio). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative names two winners for 2021, both translated from Brazilian Portuguese by Larissa Helena. The post The ‘GLLI’ Translated YA Book Prize Announces 2021 Brazilian Co-Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-07 07:20:38 UTC ]
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The ProQuest-NYU Libraries project is available to thousands of international students and scholars during its pilot until August 31. The post International Students, Scholars Have Access to NYU’s Pilot With ProQuest appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-07 04:12:31 UTC ]
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ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. said that not including libraries in the administration’s plan would be a “missed opportunity” and urged librarians to contact the White House. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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