Goodreads Librarians Group discussion
Policies & Practices
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DRM and file type information in edition field
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Suggest using these rule of thumbs from the isbn guidelines,* some quotes are below as to single isbn versus multi isbn numbers — I think on goodreads a single ebook isbn should equal single edition with nothing in edition field or if multiple isbn numbers then multiple ebook editions explaining specifically the difference between editions
only
if multiple isbns).That is, in the quotes below, for single isbn read "single goodreads ebook edition, no edition info specified"; for multiple/separate isbns on an ebook "one edition per isbn on goodreads and be very specific" (very specific meaning absolutely not just saying epub or DRM because 99% of all U.S. books from the big six publishers that just say ebook edition are going to be some flavor of epub and some flavor of DRM they are currently using and I for one do not want to go back thru and edit every existing ebook from the big six to denote "epub 1.0/2.0/3.0, ACS4 DRM" in the edition field much less read thru all the publisher site info to locate the data. )
Quoted from U.S. isbn guidelines for ebooks (emphasis mine to separate question from answer):
"11. I am publishing two versions of an e-book, one without DRM and one with 'social' DRM that does not enforce any restrictions on the user (e.g. watermarking). Do I need two separateISBNs?
No. If the social DRM does not enforce any restrictions or intrude significantly on the users'experience, it is transparent to them and need not be given a separate ISBN."
"2. Should different versions of the e-book that use the same file format (e.g. epub) have different ISBNs?
If the different versions use the same DRM software (e.g. Adobe ACS4) with substantially the same settings and are interoperable on different devices or software, then a single ISBN should be used.
If, however, the same DRM software is used on two versions but with significantly different settings (e.g. one allows printing but the other does not) then each version should have its own separate ISBNs.
If proprietary DRM is used that ties a version to a specific platform, device or software then, if ISBNs are assigned (see 6 below), separate ISBNs should be used for each such version." [generally the book store attached to the device will use their own identifiers, e.g., kindle's asin numbers, nook bnid—but not always]
"3. Assuming the same content, what are the features that distinguish different e-book
products and determine whether separate ISBNs are required?
The key features are whether any specific device or software is required to read the e-book and what user functionality is provided (e.g. copy, print, lend etc.). As mentioned above, this is normally defined by a combination of file format and Digital Rights Management software."
"8. E-book reading devices offer different features such as type size, text to speech,
bookmarking, colour etc. Although my content, file format and DRM are the same, the user experience varies according to the device used. How does this affect the assignment of ISBNs?
Not at all. If the content, file format, DRM and settings are unchanged, then any variation that depends on the device or software used to read the e-book does not impact on the ISBN.
Note that provision of mono or colour images in separate e-publications intended respectively for mono or colour devices constitutes a change of content - and therefore of ISBN. However if colour images only are provided, but a particular device has only a mono display, that is simply a device limitation and does not imply a second ISBN." [goodreads example, some of the Harlequin Manga ebooks have a monochrome and a color edition.]
And not completely relevant to librarian ebook policies but including because #2 mentioned:
"6. If my e-books are being supplied by a retailer that is the sole provider of e-books in a proprietary format that can only be bought it's own website (e.g. Amazon Kindle, Apple i-bookstore) and that retailer does not require ISBNs, should I assign ISBNs to those versions?
It is not necessary to do so, unless it is useful for your own purposes or you want that version to be listed in third-party databases of available e-books . However, since these platforms are generally not interoperable, if you do assign ISBNs, make sure that they are unique to each version to avoid problems if those versions should later become available through third parties."
Above Quotes taken from ebook guidelines at http://www.isbn-international.org/pag...
Mod
Correct.
If anyone wants to help clean up, from your browser search engine (not goodreads search feature) try searching for:
epub site:goodreads.com/book
drm site:goodreads.com/book
Not perfect solution and some of the computer books have epub or drm appropriately in title or a review mentions, but otherwise decent working list.
DRM in edition field is really confusing. If there are two ebook editions with unique isbn 978### assigned, the edition field may need a DRM statement but not just the plain acronym "DRM" with no additional explanation. All common ebook formats have DRM even if the Digital Rights Management = there are none.
Odd enough having two ebook edition isbns and needing to be more specific that I would suggest explaining in change comments section to show librarian change log or even a librarian note (depending on how confusing the edition info might be).
On ebook editions with multiple isbns, a judgment call on wording DRM in edition field. Keeping in mind that commonly used by publishers ebook formats all have DRM even if the Digital Rights Management = there are no Digital Rights Management for this ebook.
If the difference was between "DRM prohibits printing" and "DRM allows printing" — that's how I personally would phrase it.
If some really long technical explanation attached to DRM edition explanation, I'd really abbreviate in the edition field and stick a note in book description explaining the abbreviated version instead of trying to condense a paragraph-sized chunk of information (try adding both isbn numbers to shopping cart on publisher site to see how the publisher site abbreviates for an idea).
Mod
DRM free notices in description field are sometimes introductory promotions.
rivka wrote: "I am unconvinced any of this belongs in the edition field. The description field sometimes has such info, and that seems fine."
I agree, especially since it is subject to change without a change in edition. Authors and even publishers change their minds about DRM, sometimes more than once. It would be impossible to keep up to date.
In addition, different retailers using different DRM systems with different restrictions, but these may fall under a single edition on GR. A single edition published can end up with three or four different DRM systems attached on the retail end.
DRM is retailer-specific, not edition-specific. It is something applied in the sales process, not the publishing process.
(Edited because I completely messed up an entire sentence.)
I agree, especially since it is subject to change without a change in edition. Authors and even publishers change their minds about DRM, sometimes more than once. It would be impossible to keep up to date.
In addition, different retailers using different DRM systems with different restrictions, but these may fall under a single edition on GR. A single edition published can end up with three or four different DRM systems attached on the retail end.
DRM is retailer-specific, not edition-specific. It is something applied in the sales process, not the publishing process.
(Edited because I completely messed up an entire sentence.)
Not exactly the same topic, but, is it wrong when an ebook from one publisher has the exact same isbn as a print edition from another publisher? (Regular retail distribution, not one of those publisher selling an ebook directly from their website only with no other distribution loopholes—for example, a createspace print edition and a smashwords ebook edition having exaxt same isbn)
I'm not completely comfortable reading the isbn codes; but I thought towards the beginning digits publisher was identified and digits before the end identified book title and format/binding?
Not sure how all that is handled for the self/indie published. I know on goodreads just need unique isbns; I encounter usually when trying to add an ebook edition.
Mod
In what sense? It does seem to happen.
In the sense that two different unconnected publishers would be using the exact same isbn? (Thought publisher info was somewhere in the isbn).
Depends on how "unconnected" they really are. There are only six major publishing houses in the world (though there are countless small independents). The vast majority of mainstream publishers are own by one of these Big Six. It could be that a book moved from one imprint within the publishing company, or a smaller press got bought out. In a few cases, really weird things happen. I believe one of the romance publishers (Harlequin?) bought out another smaller company at one time and reused whole blocks (think dozens to hundreds) of ISBNs originally assigned to a different publisher.You are correct about the publisher code being included in the ISBN though.
Parts of an ISBN:
1. for a 13-digit ISBN, a GS1 prefix: 978 or 979 (indicating the industry; in this case, 978 denotes book publishing)
2. the group identifier (language-sharing country group)
3. the publisher code
4. the item number
5. a checksum character or check digit
Mod
It also depends on whether the ISBN was bought by the author (if the publishers are of the indie variety), or provided by one of the publishers.
(Also, new indie writers sometimes don't know better. Even if that's only true in a fraction of a percent of cases, that's a lot of books.)
In the last case I noticed, it was smashwords and createspace versus big six publishers. I know isbn "rules" don't allow print and ebook editions to carry exact same isbn (loophole an exclusive to publisher or author site direct download sale of ebook version of an existing isbn print book). Never sure what indies know.
For goodreads purposes, which edition gets the isbn when creating new book entries if the exact same publication dates? Do we add notes similar to alternate cover editions? (I'm assuming if not a new add that as always the edition first having the isbn gets to keep it.) If a goodreads author, should we doublecheck with them that the duplicate isbn for different book format wasn't a typo from a cut-and-paste slip-up?
I'm leaning towards print edition if same pub.dates because will have isbn on cover of book-in-hand so may be more visible to readers than an ebook edition.
Mod
And yes, the no-ISBN edition would get a Note explaining that it shared ISBN ______ with the print (or ebook) edition.
I keep running across more and more mentions of file types, brands of file types, DRM and other copy protections in the edition field. I thought that information did not get mentioned unless differentiating between multiple isbn editions of ebook. Or an exception to policy was made for a noted reason.
I'm really completely clueless why anyone would put just "DRM" in the edition field with no specifics even if goodreads is now allowing.
I thought one thread (trouble with search) had already clarified that only if ebook has multiple isbn numbers needing to be clarified; if ebook only has one isbn, do not specify even if author or publisher has hundreds of file types, DRM options and device options showing on their site — things like pdf, epub, DRM, DRM free, mobi, etc. don't belong in edition field.
I thought the answer was paraphrasing isbn practices for ebooks (a pdf file for ebook guidelines is at http://www.isbn-international.org/pag... ) if that helps anyone. (Putting some quoted material in a separate post below).
Some publishers (Smashwords, Baen, Hatchette, etc.) allow the same isbn ebook to be downloaded in a dozen or so file types and for the common ebook formats publishers there are thousands of devices that read. I thought goodreads was not going to try and make several dozen editions (much less thousands) just to note how member was reading the file.
If only one isbn assigned then only says "ebook" unless a unique bookseller identifier (not the isbn) or device specific—identifiers like kindle asin number, bnid for nook, kobo 123 number, etc.
If direct sold exclusively only from author or publisher site (no other bookseller or site makes available) may not have an isbn and may need an exception made to nothing in edition field to identify editions.
If DRM is relevant to an ebook edition, then each DRM version needs to have its own isbn before we mention anything about DRM (plus, if mentioned, for crying out loud specify the exact DRM details and differences, just saying "DRM" or "Adobe DRM" with/without/free means nothing and has nothing to do with whatever qualified the editions to have multiple isbns no matter how many times promotions and bookseller product pages like pointing it out.)