Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:15:48 -0400
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Why I won't buy a Kindle or do business with Amazon
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

On 10/23/2012 11:44 PM, Michael Walsh wrote:
>
> Assorted details here:
> http://boingboing.net/2012/10/22/kindle-user-claims-amazon-dele.html

Thanks!  Interesting reading.

>> I did write them off as far as e-books go based on the 1984 "in the dark
>> of night recall" incident a couple of years ago.
>> (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111487759)  That
>> was just wrong, and there's nothing stopping them from doing it again.
>
> It's a problem.  Amazon was selling books they didn't have a right to
> sell.  They would have been better off working something out with the
> rights holders - along with stop selling the book.  Yes copyright is a
> mess, nonetheless the Orwell estate was within their rights to have
> Amazon cease selling the book.

No question that the rights owners had the right to stop sales, and to
recover losses from Amazon for any that were already sold.  If it was
printed books, that's how it would have been handled I expect.

Amazon also probably has the right, granted in the license agreement for
the Kindle or the Amazon account associated with it, to repossess the
book in the middle of the night without warning.

I have the right not to engage in a business deal that requires such a
license agreement, and I haven't and won't.

>> With a real book, they'd have to break into my house...and that would be
>> very dangerous for them to do.
>
> In that case, they'll spray your house with book acid! <g>
> Watch the paper turn brown and crumble!

That would be dangerous for them to do too. I suspect that my gun has
more range than their sprayer...

-- Mike B.