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> the filing takes issue with Amazon’s proprietary DRM, > AZW: “Ebooks with the AZW DRM can only be read on a > Kindle device or on another device enabled w

> the filing takes issue with Amazon’s proprietary DRM, > AZW: “Ebooks with the AZW DRM can only be read on a > Kindle device or on another device enabled with a Kindle > application…the Kindle app works solely with ebooks sold > by Amazon.” Being able to read books from Amazon only on a Kindle or via the Kindle app isn't a big deal in practice, because there are Kindle apps available for every major platform and on the web. The claim that the Kindle app only works with Amazon books is flat-out false. I know for a fact that it supports DRM-free Mobipocket files, and I assume that the Amazon document conversion service works for the app just as it does for Kindle devices.

samolang 14y ago
I don't think the Amazon document conversion service works for non-kindle devices. EDIT: Nevermind, seems to work now. Just sent a .mobi file to my kindle android app using http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/pc http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/pc
johnrgrace 14y ago
It's a HUGE deal if you want to sell books. Yes the Kindle reads DRM free books, but 80% of the books being sold in terms of dollar volume MUST be sold with DRM. Thus anyone with a Kindle can't buy and read the majority of books being sold if they buy those books from a 3rd party. I know you can buy good books without DRM, but if you want to read Stephen King, Nora Roberts, John Grisham they are ONLY sold with DRM. Selling those ebooks when they can't work on the eBook reader system that has sold more units than every other system becomes a problem. Note, I happen to have a solution for getting ebooks with DRM onto a kindle in a readable form that I'm working on.
- jmillikin 14y ago
  If the ebook reader market is dominated by one manufacturer that supports both DRM'd and open formats, and some author refuses to sell books in an open format while complaining about DRM, then that's not the manufacturer's fault. It's not reasonable to expect Amazon to support every hair-brained DRM scheme that a publisher can come up with.

samolang 14y ago

I don't think the Amazon document conversion service works for non-kindle devices. EDIT: Nevermind, seems to work now. Just sent a .mobi file to my kindle android app using http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/pc http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/pc

johnrgrace 14y ago

It's a HUGE deal if you want to sell books. Yes the Kindle reads DRM free books, but 80% of the books being sold in terms of dollar volume MUST be sold with DRM. Thus anyone with a Kindle can't buy and read the majority of books being sold if they buy those books from a 3rd party. I know you can buy good books without DRM, but if you want to read Stephen King, Nora Roberts, John Grisham they are ONLY sold with DRM. Selling those ebooks when they can't work on the eBook reader system that has sold more units than every other system becomes a problem. Note, I happen to have a solution for getting ebooks with DRM onto a kindle in a readable form that I'm working on.

jmillikin 14y ago
If the ebook reader market is dominated by one manufacturer that supports both DRM'd and open formats, and some author refuses to sell books in an open format while complaining about DRM, then that's not the manufacturer's fault. It's not reasonable to expect Amazon to support every hair-brained DRM scheme that a publisher can come up with.