Tor/Forge, an imprint of MacMillan, is among the first publishers to drop DRM on it’s eBooks. DRM is according to Wikmobileread is: DRM as applied to eBooks is generally a code that must be present in order for the reader to be able to open an eBook. The code may be locked to a particular device, or may be locked to a range of multiple devices. In other cases it is locked to a user. There is no standard implementation for DRM. DRM is supposed to protect the author and publisher of eBooks (or eMusic and other electronic media) from pirating and other illegal activities. Some opponents call it Digital Restriction Management and claims it goes far beyond illegal activity and restricts items that are both legal and reasonable use.
Many however, think DRM is restrictive to legitimate buyers and have fought the inclusion of DRM on eBooks for a long time. Tom Doherty, Publisher of Tor/Forge said in a statement: “Our authors and readers have been asking for this for a long time. They are a technically sophisticated bunch, and DRM is a constant annoyance to them. It prevents the from using legitimately purchased eBook in perfectly legal ways, like moving them from one kind of eReader to another.”
eReaders and authors are waiting to see if other publishers follow suit.
