Posted on January 21, 2010 by by benrichter

Amazon created the Kindle eReader to be a handy device for reading books, magazines, and other print media.  However, researchers are finding out that the Amazon Kindle is the only device that you can read Kindle books on.  Amazon will not allow you to read the Kindle books on other devices, but the question is why?  You pay money to buy an eBook, you want to download it, store it, and keep it on hand to read again.  Unfortunately the world of eBooks isn’t as simple as buying a paperback book. 

Amazon has a DRM block on Kindle books.  The DRM blocks you from converting their file to another type of file.  Basically the DRM limits your ability to download and read a book on any other e-reader. Illegally there are probably ways to break the DRM, like CD’s and DVD’s, but it is a huge hassle and not worth it. 

To explain the legalese regarding eBooks one must understand what it is you are buying.  When you purchase and download an eBook you are buying the license to use it from Amazon or another seller.  Some books will allow you to download it more than once, but other books have blocks only allowing one or two downloads.  If your files are damaged, deleted, or you are trying to upgrade your device this can be a problem.  In small print in the download section it will tell you that some books are restricted downloads, but it will not tell you how many times you can download that book. 

This protection is there for the publishers and authors.  They want you to pay for their materials, so that they do not lose money in the electronic world.  This is generally for all eBooks.  The Amazon Kindle books go a little farther. 

Amazon does not want you to go elsewhere to buy your books.  Even though there are hundreds of eBook sites you have to download Kindle books through Amazon whether this is direct or indirect.  Publishers and authors are still making their money on the sales, but Amazon is getting a bigger cut.  Any Kindle Book you buy can only be read on the Amazon Kindle.  If Amazon creates a new device they may allow you to read Kindle books on the new device. 

You can probably see where all of this is going.  Everyone wants to make a profit in the eBook worlds as they did with the paper world.  Amazon Kindle owners will be locked into purchasing only Kindle Books and will have to stick with them in the future.  Book publishers are going to have to go to Amazon if they want their books published if people continue towards the Kindle over the other devices.  It’s basically a win- win situation for Amazon.

Why Amazon Won’t Allow You To Read Kindle Books On Other Devices, 3.0 out of 5 based on 2 ratings

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