Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks
Amazon plans to let customers download DRM‑free Kindle ebooks as EPUB or PDF files starting in 2026, but only when publishers or authors explicitly opt in. Commenters welcome any move toward real ownership of digital books yet see this as a limited, belated concession after years of lock‑in, removals of download options, and examples of users losing entire libraries when accounts are banned. Many say they have already shifted to alternatives like Kobo, independent ebook stores, libraries, or piracy combined with DRM removal, and stress that they now avoid buying any ebook they cannot back up and keep permanently.
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.