Amazon just lately modified the wording on their web site relating to shopping for Kindle ebooks.
Because the screenshot above exhibits, they now have a disclaimer underneath the purchase now button that claims, “By inserting your order, you’re buying a license to the content material and also you comply with the Kindle Retailer Phrases of Use”.
It additionally says that very same factor when searching for Kindle ebooks immediately from the shop on Kindle ereaders and Kindle apps.
The humorous factor is that they solely look like doing that within the US. I checked Amazon UK and Amazon CA and each present the previous disclaimer that simply says, “By clicking the above button, you comply with the Kindle Retailer Phrases of Use”.
In case you click on the phrases of use hyperlink you’ll discover a web page filled with authorized disclaimers indicating you’re shopping for a license to entry Kindle content material, however they don’t brazenly disclose it on product pages underneath the purchase button like on the Amazon US web site.
I learn someplace a few new legislation that was handed in California the place firms should “conspicuously” disclose that prospects are shopping for a license relating to digital media like ebooks, in order that’s doubtless the explanation why Amazon made the change.
However not all e book shops are following the identical path. Kobo nonetheless simply has a hyperlink to their phrases of sale web page while you go to checkout. Apple doesn’t say something about licenses in any respect when making an attempt to purchase an e book from them. Google doesn’t say something about it on their e book product pages, however they do say you’re buying a license earlier than confirming the acquisition, with a hyperlink to their phrases of service.
Some folks nonetheless don’t know that when shopping for digital content material you’re shopping for a license to view mentioned content material, not the precise content material itself. You don’t really “personal” the ebooks you buy; you simply personal the rights to view them. It’s a distinction that applies to digital media since you’ll be able to’t bodily personal it.
I believe it’s a good suggestion for firms to brazenly disclose that truth earlier than shopping for. No one goes to learn by these ridiculous TOS pages earlier than buying one thing.
