Can Kindle account be inherited? (hypothetical question)

jerrry94087 · 12-30-2009, 09:15 PM

While thinking about how Kindle works, this situation came to my mind: what if the account owner dies?

In case of the regular books they will become a part of an estate.

What about Kindle books? Will heirs be able to inherit them and just use them like the original owner? Or the access to the account will cease as the password vanishes in the deceased parson's head?

paperwastage · 12-30-2009, 10:38 PM

if you read the terms of the kindle and ebook license, the account hold licenses to the ebooks you've bought... i'm sure amazon should be able to transfer ownership of the account to someone else with the presence of a death certificate, assuming the original owner registered properly... but you never know...

why this strange question?

jerrry94087 · 12-30-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paperwastage

why this strange question?

I have a penchant for strange, odd questions.

coolbreeze · 12-30-2009, 10:45 PM

This reminds me of those online companies that are claiming to be a "will" for your electronic life. Everyone has email, facebook, etc, etc, accounts. If you die, who has the rights and/or access to that information?

It's going to be an interesting development in the near future. I say just put the info (passwords, etc) in your will, but that sounds too simple, now doesn't it?

Of course many companies are seeing the potential green and profit off of ensuring your "digital lifestyle" is protected. Lol, just use your will and hope these shady companies go out of business.

Mike L · 12-31-2009, 07:16 AM

I don't see why this should be any different from any other kind of inheritance.

When you die, your property goes into your estate. Eventually, the estate gets distributed among the beneficiaries -- whether those specified in your will, or, if you didn't make a will, according to the law in the relevant state or country. It doesn't matter what Amazon or anyone else write in their terms and conditions. They can't override the rights of the beneficiaries.

Of course, they'll be practical difficulties, like the question of passwords. But those don't affect the legal situation.

desertgrandma · 12-31-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerrry94087

I have a penchant for strange, odd questions.

You could always send an email to CS kindle support........It would be interesting to post the answer.

paperwastage · 12-31-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

I don't see why this should be any different from any other kind of inheritance.

When you die, your property goes into your estate. Eventually, the estate gets distributed among the beneficiaries -- whether those specified in your will, or, if you didn't make a will, according to the law in the relevant state or country. It doesn't matter what Amazon or anyone else write in their terms and conditions. They can't override the rights of the beneficiaries.

Of course, they'll be practical difficulties, like the question of passwords. But those don't affect the legal situation.

that's why i have a list of (important) online accounts and passwords in my safety deposit box

12-30-2009, 09:15 PM	#1
jerrry94087 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Nook Touch	Can Kindle account be inherited? (hypothetical question) While thinking about how Kindle works, this situation came to my mind: what if the account owner dies? In case of the regular books they will become a part of an estate. What about Kindle books? Will heirs be able to inherit them and just use them like the original owner? Or the access to the account will cease as the password vanishes in the deceased parson's head?

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12-30-2009, 10:38 PM	#2
paperwastage Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 1310 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: kindle DX Graphite	if you read the terms of the kindle and ebook license, the account hold licenses to the ebooks you've bought... i'm sure amazon should be able to transfer ownership of the account to someone else with the presence of a death certificate, assuming the original owner registered properly... but you never know... why this strange question?

12-30-2009, 10:45 PM	#4
coolbreeze Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 2600 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Nook Color, White 3G K3	This reminds me of those online companies that are claiming to be a "will" for your electronic life. Everyone has email, facebook, etc, etc, accounts. If you die, who has the rights and/or access to that information? It's going to be an interesting development in the near future. I say just put the info (passwords, etc) in your will, but that sounds too simple, now doesn't it? Of course many companies are seeing the potential green and profit off of ensuring your "digital lifestyle" is protected. Lol, just use your will and hope these shady companies go out of business.

12-31-2009, 07:16 AM	#5
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	I don't see why this should be any different from any other kind of inheritance. When you die, your property goes into your estate. Eventually, the estate gets distributed among the beneficiaries -- whether those specified in your will, or, if you didn't make a will, according to the law in the relevant state or country. It doesn't matter what Amazon or anyone else write in their terms and conditions. They can't override the rights of the beneficiaries. Of course, they'll be practical difficulties, like the question of passwords. But those don't affect the legal situation.

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