Hey, Big Brother! Hands off my Kindle!
So you thought you were actually buying books when you plunked down $9.99 via your Kindle? More like renting them.
Amazon reached into the files of Kindle owners in recent days to retrieve pirated copies of George Orwell's 1984 and other books, according to the Associated Press. Users were notified after the books were swiped, and were given refunds.
A company spokesman said the move was meant to delete pirated copies that had been added to the Kindle store by someone who did not have the legal right to the material. "We are changing our systems so that in the future we will not remove books from customers' devices in these circumstances." spokesman Drew Herdener said Friday, according to the AP.
Amazon's actions highlight concerns that e-book retailers retain access to items that they sell -- and access to an individual's Kindle. Sort of like Big Brother, eh George?
While she always preferred The Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew, 
Comments
Yikes! Even I can't defend Amazon on this one. What a horrible way they handled this situation.
And I had a terrible time putting my Kindle to sleep tonight. He is terrified that he'll be STRIPPED during the night! Poor baby.
Posted by: Gail Farrelly | July 18, 2009 12:53 AM
They did not have any rights to 1984 byGeorge Orwell. It is a public domain book, except for maybe the introduction and commentary which would be added proprietary content. The title adds to the feeling.
Kindles are tethered devices. You buy them from Amazon then purchase the material from Amazon. Amazon has control over these machines in the literal sense.
Kindle has DRM (digital rights managemnt )agreements along wite End User Licensing Agreements.
Essentially you are buying certain rights to use the machine. It is a contract much like a contract to lease a photocopier with usage agreements.
In a way it seems like a lease or rental more than outright purchase. It reminds me a little bit of Zipcar where you have rights to use a car part of the time.
I like to think of it as part of an emerging economy based on rights to service and use rather than ownership. This is why I am a fun of the non-propietary epub format, creative commons, and open access.
It is fairly easy to get free use of 1984 from Project Gutenberg and other sites.
There are even free ereaders for cell phones which can read books like 1984.
Posted by: Book Calendar | July 18, 2009 12:21 PM
"pirated copies that had been added to the Kindle store by someone who did not have the legal right to the material"
They were not *pirated copies*, just copies illegal in the United States. The books have entered the Public Domain in several countries, including Canada. They would be in the Public Domain here too, along will "Winne-the-Pooh", if not for the Copyright Term Extension Acts.
Disney nets a billion a year on Pooh, and gave a fraction of that to congressional lobbyists.
Posted by: anon | July 18, 2009 3:24 PM
Why would amazon do something so stupid? And with 1984 of all books.
I actually use my i Pod to read books.
Posted by: Chris R | July 20, 2009 2:58 PM
Six months ago bloggers (notably Stephanie at UrbZen) warned about this kind of thing.
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/kindle-see-we-told-you-so/
Posted by: Mike Licht | July 26, 2009 2:10 PM
Great idea, but will this work over the long run?
Posted by: Usenet | July 29, 2009 5:21 PM