I very much agree with him regarding DRM, and I understand why it puts him off launching audiobooks on Audible.
Still, it is worth commenting that there are trivial ways to remove DRM from Audible files. I myself do it to my own collection, partly out of "lockout prevention", and partly so that I can listen to the books using apps that I find infinitely more covenient and feature rich than Audible's own (shout-out to Podcast Addict).
I won't detail how it is done, out of respect for the fact that HN is based in a jurisdiction where the DMCA represses free speech on the topic. However, Doctorow could always release his audiobooks on Audible while pointing with plausible deniability towards information on how to remove DRM, hosted from countries where we're lucky enough that talking about technical procedures is not a crime.
Still, it is worth commenting that there are trivial ways to remove DRM from Audible files. I myself do it to my own collection, partly out of "lockout prevention", and partly so that I can listen to the books using apps that I find infinitely more covenient and feature rich than Audible's own (shout-out to Podcast Addict).
I won't detail how it is done, out of respect for the fact that HN is based in a jurisdiction where the DMCA represses free speech on the topic. However, Doctorow could always release his audiobooks on Audible while pointing with plausible deniability towards information on how to remove DRM, hosted from countries where we're lucky enough that talking about technical procedures is not a crime.