Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Scope of Amazon’s Change

  • Applies only to titles that are already DRM‑free and only if authors/publishers explicitly opt in.
  • New DRM‑free uploads have the option available (behind an “I understand” checkbox); it’s not applied retroactively.
  • Many see this as Amazon partially rolling back its earlier removal of downloads, but now shifting blame to publishers.

How Many DRM‑Free Books Exist?

  • Commenters report “thousands,” heavily skewed toward science fiction/fantasy, especially from publishers like Tor and Baen and many self‑published titles.
  • Public‑domain and copyleft books are typically sourced from Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks, etc., not Amazon.
  • There is no reliable way in the Kindle UI to filter for DRM‑free titles; existing DRM‑free books won’t automatically gain download rights.

Reactions to DRM and Piracy

  • Strong sentiment that DRM undermines ownership; many say they now refuse to buy DRM‑encumbered media.
  • Common pattern: buy the book, strip DRM with Calibre, and keep personal backups; some buy then download a clean copy from pirate archives.
  • Others pirate outright, arguing they won’t pay intermediaries, though some push back, stressing paying authors, editors, translators.
  • Several note that DRM and platform bans make Stallman‑style warnings about “not really owning digital goods” look prescient.

Kindle vs Kobo and Other Ecosystems

  • Many have already switched to Kobo, Boox, or generic e‑ink + KOReader, citing better openness, Calibre integration, and easier DRM removal.
  • Some still prefer Kindle hardware but jailbreak and sideload everything, or buy from Kobo/Bookshop.org and convert.
  • Kobo also uses DRM for many titles but (a) labels DRM status, (b) allows sideloaded files easily, and (c) is easier to de‑DRM via Calibre.

Trust, Bans, and Ownership

  • Multiple stories of Amazon bans (often tied to disputed refunds) leading to total loss of Kindle libraries and remote wipes.
  • Debate over whether Kindle books were “always just licenses,” and how Amazon quietly hardened terms over time.
  • Many say this move is “too little, too late” and will use it only to export remaining books, not to resume buying.