Amazon limiting download of purchased books!?

[Addie]

HOWEVER I do believe that Amazon should make it so that you have a Kindle line, in that if you upgrade to a new version of Kindle, you can somehow tag it to the previous, lesser version and get a one-time freebie download of content to that.  But only with the upgrade.  This would alleviate pretty much everyone's concerns and keep the publishers happy that people aren't just handing out books.

Rachel

I totally agree with this. This really would ease my mind.

So I seem to be interpreting this whole thing two different ways, and I was wondering which way is the right one.
I'm reading that you can only have up to six devices registered at a time to download the same book. You will not be able to download a book to a seventh device, but you can download and archive the book as many times as you want on your six registered devices.

I'm also reading that you can only download a book six times or less period, depending on the publisher or whoever is making the arbitrary number. So, for example, if you downloaded a book, archived it and did this five more times on the same device, if you tried it one more time, you would be unable to download the book anymore (unless there's intervention by CS or you buy the book again).

Which of these is the concern we have? Sorry this is a dumb question, and I'm all confused. I thought I got it, but I read over the article and all the comments at the article's site and this one again and now I'm confused again. 

[Maxx]

I just did an experiment.  I had a book that I had already read and that was free in my archives.  I downloaded it and archived it 7 times, no problem.  So I don't think there is a limit to the number of  times you can download a book you have purchased.  If there was a limit, I would have a problem with that.  What would be the point of archiving books on Amazon if at some point you no longer have access to them.  If we are unable to download our Amazon purchases at will then that is the best reason yet for folders/tags.

[Addie]

I just did an experiment.  I had a book that I had already read and that was free in my archives.  I downloaded it and archived it 7 times, no problem.  So I don't think there is a limit to the number of  times you can download a book you have purchased.  If there was a limit, I would have a problem with that.  What would be the point of archiving books on Amazon if at some point you no longer have access to them.  If we are unable to download our Amazon purchases at will then that is the best reason yet for folders/tags.

Thanks for doing the experiment! Right now I only have a K2 and an iPod Touch, so I'm thinking I won't have to worry about it then if it's a registration limit.
I would have been really upset if I could only download my books a certain number of times period. I'm one of those who hates leaving read books on her Kindle, but does like to go back occasionally and re-read books.

Hopefully by the time I get that seventh registered device, the problem will be solved!

[rho]

my thinking is that originally they didn't realize how quickly they would come out with new models and that you could read on you iPhone or iTouch too AND that so many of us would be buying new Kindles as they come out and they thought that 6 units would be plenty to last for ages - but I am really hoping that they will work something out now that they know that we will be going over the 6 limit pretty quickly - and isn't Jeff B talking about other devices etc being able to get Kindle books etc  --

I really can't see them advertising you have your whole library archived and at your fingertips if you lose use of the books ...after all that is one of the main selling points... I have 4 more readers to go and I sure am hoping it is fixed by then

[libros_lego]

http://ireaderreview.com/2009/06/20/kindle-misinformation-courtesy-geardiary/

[Athenagwis]

It's not the number of times to download that's limited.  It's the number of devices you can download to.  So you can download the same book 100 times to the same kindle if you want, but you can only download that book to 6 different kindle reading devices.  So if you, your 3 sisters, and mother share an account and you also have a kindle enabled phone and then you you decide to upgrade to the newest version of DX.  If all of you (including your phone) had loaded a book on all 6 of those separate devices, you would NOT be able to load it on your DX, because that would now be a 7th device.  However, you could still download that book as many times as you want to those original 6 devices.  This prevents people from attaching random kindles to their accounts, loading all the books and then deregistering them, thus sharing their library with everyone under the sun. 

This is going to become more of an issue as more new versions of the kindle come out and people upgrade, move books over and start using up these licenses.  If you and your husband share an account, once you go through 3 upgrades, you'd have to rebuy any books that have been on all of those kindles.  This could be in a matter of 6 years or so!  Of course most fiction, you probably wouldn't put on each upgraded kindle, but reference books, textbooks, cook books, travel books etc... most likely would go on all those kindles and with the price of these books being slightly higher, I would be pretty peeved to lose the right to these in under 10 years.

Hope that clarifies the issue.

Rachel

[Meemo]

It's not the number of times to download that's limited.  It's the number of devices you can download to.  So you can download the same book 100 times to the same kindle if you want, but you can only download that book to 6 different kindle reading devices.  So if you, your 3 sisters, and mother share an account and you also have a kindle enabled phone and then you you decide to upgrade to the newest version of DX.  If all of you (including your phone) had loaded a book on all 6 of those separate devices, you would NOT be able to load it on your DX, because that would now be a 7th device.  However, you could still download that book as many times as you want to those original 6 devices.  This prevents people from attaching random kindles to their accounts, loading all the books and then deregistering them, thus sharing their library with everyone under the sun. 

This is going to become more of an issue as more new versions of the kindle come out and people upgrade, move books over and start using up these licenses.  If you and your husband share an account, once you go through 3 upgrades, you'd have to rebuy any books that have been on all of those kindles.  This could be in a matter of 6 years or so!  Of course most fiction, you probably wouldn't put on each upgraded kindle, but reference books, textbooks, cook books, travel books etc... most likely would go on all those kindles and with the price of these books being slightly higher, I would be pretty peeved to lose the right to these in under 10 years.

Hope that clarifies the issue.

Rachel

Actually this is one of the reasons I've chosen not to get the Kindle app on my new iPhone.  We've already got 3 Klassic Kindles and my husband's iPhone on my Kindle account.  Eventually all three of us will probably upgrade.  It's not likely that we'll all be downloading all the same books to all the Kindles, but still - I figure I can read on Stanza or Wattpad on my iPhone, and save that registration for an upgrade down the line. 
I do think if a Kindle has to be returned because it's defective, Amazon should remove that returned Kindle's "tags" from purchased books. 

[Rasputina]

As I've said before, issues like this are what worry me with not only Kindle, but with e-books in general.

I have a Kindle, and I use it every day.  I love it.

That being said, however, I am still not necessarily drawn to the Kindle more than to regular books.  And this is one reason why.  Even now, I have a book I want, and I am having the hardest time deciding whether it is better to buy it on Kindle, or to buy a hardcopy that I know I'll have without any issues for a long, long time.

If I buy a hardcopy book, I have it for the life of the book (and I take good care of mine, so they last a long time).  I don't have to buy a new one if I use up my "limited downloads" on it. 

I would love to see Kindle and e-books succeed, but they have some serious issues they are going to have to figure out first, I think. 

I agree. I just bought some hardbacks of books instead of buying them on K for similar reasons. Some of my ebooks have a limited life for me and that's fine. But the stuff I know will have a long term life I want in DTB. In fact I have a couple books I bought on K that I'm now planning on buying in DTB form for my library so I have it for permanent future use. I do love my K for portability and especially love it for being able to read documents, either I created or have accumulated from various sources, away from the computer but it isn't a substitute for my personal library.

[LauraB]

I only buy ebooks, for any reader, that are one-off reads, or a resource I want with me. I dont worry about the DRM because any book I really want in my library I buy a physical copy. I've always viewed my ereaders as being for the books I only want to read once and then not have to move to dust forever. Guess im just odd. But i've been doing it since the rocketbook and it works for me.  I wouldn't know they have DRM if people didn't make an issue of it. I wonder where the majority of "regular" (non-techie) kindle owners fit in this? 

[Addie]

Thanks to everyone for helping to clarify the issue! 

I only buy ebooks, for any reader, that are one-off reads, or a resource I want with me. I dont worry about the DRM because any book I really want in my library I buy a physical copy. I've always viewed my ereaders as being for the books I only want to read once and then not have to move to dust forever. Guess im just odd. But i've been doing it since the rocketbook and it works for me.  I wouldn't know they have DRM if people didn't make an issue of it. I wonder where the majority of "regular" (non-techie) kindle owners fit in this? 

I'm one of those who usually buys an ebook for the one time read. If I really like it or really need it (like a reference book), I may buy the DTB version, but I still like the idea of being able to download the book again to my Kindle if I get in the mood to re-read. I imagine this restriction won't affect me at all, as I can't recall ever re-reading a book six times and have no real need for reference books. It is unfortunate for those who have large families or have several ereader devices due to upgrades and such, but it's reassuring to know that CS can go ahead and deregister a device to meet your needs. While I'm not in love with the restriction, I understand it and therefore can deal with it. I would imagine most people would feel the same way, but who knows.

[jpmorgan49]

Thanks to everyone who helped clear up this issue....
jp

[tbsteph]

I found the below article on Gear Diary via a story on today's (6/21/09) Gizmodo.  Any thoughts?

http://www.geardiary.com/2009/06/19/kindles-drm-rears-its-ugly-head-and-it-is-ugly/


 
 

[Ssnake51]

I dont worry about the DRM because any book I really want in my library I buy a physical copy. I've always viewed my ereaders as being for the books I only want to read once and then not have to move to dust forever. Guess im just odd. But i've been doing it since the rocketbook and it works for me. 

Doesn't sound odd to me at all.  If one finds a book they really enjoy, why wouldn't they want to own the paper version? 

E-books readers like the Kindle are one very useful tool to help us enjoy the pleasure of reading. 
I see no reason for thinking they can or should replace paper books.  And I think this issue of download limits is just one example illustrating that point. 

[Addie]

We've actually been having that discussion on another thread. 

Here it is: http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,10242.0.html