Has OverDrive Gone Too Far?

Wait, where am I again?Once again, OverDrive is changing the rules, and the ReadersFirst Coalition of libraries are protesting! According to OverDrive, the improvements to the OverDrive app are in direct response to what libraries have been asking for, an easier user experience. While the good news is that the app would no longer require users to register for an Adobe ID (to navigate the DRM), new users would have to register with OverDrive for an account. Let me repeat….the twist  going forward for new OverDrive app users, including library patrons, will be a registration step with OverDrive. This shifts the eBook relationship that has been between the library and the patron, over to OverDrive! The devil is in the details, so read the full blog post for more important information.

What do you think…..who owns the customer relationship, libraries, or the vendors they pay for content?

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/mm5huga, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0