How to convert a KFX DRM-free eBook to another format?

[s3nzanom3]

Hello all.

I posted this on the KDP Forums, and they suggested me to come here and ask. I am new, so I hope this question is in the right sub-forum. If not, my apologies.

As an independent author, I've always published my Kindle eBooks DRM-free. Now, with all the fuss about the removal of "Download and Transfer" option, my readers asked me about it and I answered my eBooks never had a DRM applied. They are DRM-free…
Complaints started.

So I tried by myself. Yesterday I plugged in my Kindle Paperwhite on my Mac, copied one of my DRM-free eBooks (the .KFX file) to my Mac and tried to convert it (the folder in which all my KFX files are present is this: /Volumes/Kindle/documents/Downloads/Items01).

For some reason is not possible to simply convert it, as I was expecting being a DRM-free file.
I just chatted with Amazon support and they couldn't answer my questions, even if they confirmed my ebook is DRM-free.

What am I missing?

Thank you for your attention.

[BetterRed]

See ==>> Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

Read the first post… it's kept up to date with latest tricks, and the recent replies. And please post further queries in that thread.

BR

[texasnightowl]

Did you install the KFX Input plugin for Calibre? It is needed to deal with KFX files.

If the book truly is DRM free, then in theory that should be all that is needed (the KFX Input plugin).

[jhowell]

Books sold by Amazon are delivered in KFX format to most Kindle apps and devices these days. Those always have DRM regardless of whether the publisher requested it or not.

The only difference is that the DRM does not lock it to a specific Kindle app/device and so in theory the book could be copied to another Kindle app/device of the same type and version and it will be readable. So it is locked to Amazon’s platform no matter what you requested in terms of DRM.

[Quoth]

Yes, you can't publish DRM free on Amazon now, unless the buyer has a PW1 or older. Direct to App and any Kindle later than PW1 has always had DRM since 2019 (that's when KFX was backported to older Kindles).

We have removed all our ebooks from Amazon while we think about it. Apple also has always applied DRM. Kobo and Google Playbooks respect Publishers wishes on DRM. I don't know how Barnes & Noble works. Smashwords never had DRM, now part of Draft2Digital.

Publish on Smashwords (adds Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo etc and will add Amazon if account migrated to D2D) and on Google Playbooks. We used same epub upload for those and Amazon.

[s3nzanom3]

Thank you all for the clear replies.

So, what I was missing is that the DRM-free means: "DRM for unlimited Kindle devices".

The answer is "No", I didn't install any plug-in, because I was overwhelmed by the amount of information found "out there". But here is all quite clear. Thank you. (I didn't know this forum until yesterday.)
I will do my homework.
If I have more questions, I will come here and first read through that starting post and then, eventually, ask for further clarification.

Again, thank you all.

[s3nzanom3]

Originally Posted by s3nzanom3

I will do my homework.

I did. And KFX Input only is not enough. Calibre says it's DRM protected.

So that DRM-free is really misleading and Amazon doesn't want to clarify that to authors easily. They even didn't answer me, yesterday, in a surreal chat. Fine. So, at least now I know what to say to my readers. Kind of: "Sorry, but Amazon lies"… Even if in some very hidden document somewhere, in the Amazon maze help pages, I figure there should be a small writing specifying the checkbox “Add Digital Rights Management (DRM) to inhibit unauthorized access to, or copying of, digital content files. Note: This cannot be changed after publication.” doesn't mean they are NOT applying a DRM, if you don't tick it. It means they DO apply it and laugh at the author behind his back.

So, my Kindle ebooks are all with DRM even if I published them DRM-free and the Amazon agent yesterday told me it doesn't have a DRM.

I'm an idiot. Checked.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by s3nzanom3

So, my Kindle ebooks are all with DRM even if I published them DRM-free and the Amazon agent yesterday told me it doesn't have a DRM.

I'm an idiot. Checked.

IF no DRM is selected:
If the reader has a prehistoric K1, K2 or DX family it's mobi and still DRM free.
If the reader has a K3 to an original Paperwhite (1, gen 5?), it's azw3 and still DRM free. Any model after the PW1 gets KFX and is never DRM free.
The Download & Transfer was mobi or azw3, (maybe Scribe got KFX?), depending on model and ebook, even if a model after the PW1.
KFX has never been DRM free.

Amazon are the idiots, not you.

[s3nzanom3]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Amazon are the idiots, not you.

Thanks for comforting me.

Amazon should give some explanation on why the option is still there if it doesn't have any effect. Why?! It feels like a fraud made to convince authors like me, who cannot care less about DRM on their eBooks because they respect their readers (the person, before the money and time of the person, which I respect too).

That's why the Amazon agent didn't answer at all. After confirming my eBook is DRM-free (and it is not…), he never answered to my following questions. It made me suspect the worst and I was right. Now I have to make a video on YouTube for my readers and say: "Hey, guys. I've been tricked. My eBooks are not DRM-free."

I feel like an idiot, believe me.

I'm wondering why I never made a video on this thing out there. Why no one is saying the truth—as an author—on that the option? If Amazon remove the option, "fine". But if not…

[DNSB]

Playing devil's advocate, from Amazon's point of view, any of their devices, apps, whatever that are new enough to handle KFX will open those KFX files with the generic encryption key. Those of us who want to open those files elsewhere are not worth considering and likely only out to pirate books.

[Sirtel]

Yeah. Amazon just doesn't want people to take their purchases out of the ecosystem. And for this purpose they're apparently willing to do anything, even lie.

[s3nzanom3]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Those of us who want to open those files elsewhere are not worth considering and likely only out to pirate books.

That's quite clear, and in a free market those are all fair moves.
I am just annoyed at this last evidence that the same authors producing products (the books) for them to sell and earn money are treated in this way. Do you want to make your monopolistic move? Why, make it without lying: that option must be removed.
Why is it still there? KFX are not here from the 26th of February but for longer time, right?

In my opinion there's even the possibility that such a thing can be legally addressed. (But, again, who knows if in some document somewhere in there maze-like ecosystem is written that the DRM is applied in any case starting with KFX format? And in the end, I prefer to live a quiet life.)

That said, I don't want to pass the idea I'm against Amazon 100% while I am using their services and I see even good things in their service to customers. It'd be hypocritical as I'm a Prime user, in fact. Nonetheless… annoyance can lead to decisions.

That said, I have to thank you all for clarify my doubts and teach me.
Highly appreciated.