Amazon plans to kill local backups of eBooks purchased through its store
In just a few days, Kindle users will no longer be able to download eBooks purchased through Amazon's Kindle store. The move will essentially end any potential for downloading local backups of purchased books; Kindle users will only be able to access their library via downloads directly to a Kindle device. In a digital economy that is steadily moving toward a license and lease model, Amazon's latest decision will further strip user choice when it comes to managing purchased content.
- This drastic limitation on user control raises important questions about the trade-offs between convenience and freedom in the digital age, particularly for consumers who value flexibility in accessing their own content.
- As users are increasingly expected to surrender ownership of their purchased goods, including eBooks, what safeguards should be put in place to prevent companies from further curating user choices and limiting access to valuable assets?