Thread: Must I abandon Clara?
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Old 03-13-2025, 08:43 AM   #68
kandwo
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Posts: 472
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Join Date: Dec 2020
Device: Boox, Bigme, Hisense, Kobo
Quote:
Originally Posted by lbschenkel View Post
It seems that there has been some pressure coming from the libraries or some other stakeholders. In late March they're going to be introducing EPUB support with Adobe DRM:

https://info.biblio.app/sv/news/adob...der-utveckling

So in theory you should be able to keep using your Kobo to read the books if you authorize it with ADE.

Note that they mention that each library has to opt-in to this (I think they charge extra), and they also say the EPUB support is "temporary" until they have to implement the EU accessibility directive — which doesn't make the slightest sense (even if you took their argument for granted that no reader software is accessible enough) as providing an EPUB option doesn't preclude offering the app/website option with all the accessibility features.

I strongly suspect they are dancing the tune played by the publishers and are using EU law as a convenient excuse to justify why they simply don't want to offer the option, as they want to have a fully closed environment with total control.

Spoiler:
Off-topic rant:

If libraries were invented today, they would be illegal. Publishers hate that a library can simply buy a book and multiple people can read it without the publisher getting a cut each time somebody checks out the book.

They're absolutely making sure that this can't happen with digital books. Nothing short of total control with full monetization will ever appease them. And of course this will means ripping off libraries and patrons. They actually want the business model to fail, as they see this as competition to book sales...
That's great news!

Or as great as they can be, considering the circumstances. It seems obvious that you are correct. What could possibly be non-accessible about offering an extra download option?

It's ridiculous to even call Biblio accessible. It's a closed system (non-accessible) with basically zero customization options for reading. Want to load in your own fonts? Forget about it - that's not accessible! Want to adjust the margins? Heretic, learn about true accessibility! Use your phone's volume buttons as page turn buttons? You wish! Read on e-ink, and disable page turn animations? In your dreams!

The reading software is a joke. It's so bare-bones I would've thought it to be beta software at best.
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