Kobo excludes Overdrive library books it doesn't also sell?

[LivresInOz]

This review claims that if Kobo doesn't sell a book, it will exclude it from Overdrive (at least in Australia).

If true, that's pretty selfish.

It may also be false advertising if they claim you can 'access Overdrive books'.

[MGlitch]

Kobo fulfills overdrive borrows from books they (Kobo) have the rights to distribute. Thus if they don’t have the rights they can’t distribute the book. Which should come as no surprise as anyone distributing goods they don’t have the rights to distribute will likely face legal action. Especially when there’s literally an electronic trail for any prosecutor for (in this case) a publisher) to follow.

As to false advertising, no. You can borrow books via overdrive. You can borrow a rather staggering amount of books. So many that you’d be hard pressed to find a judge who’d accept even a misleading or deceptive claim from the advertising.

And of course you can still borrow the book from overdrive via a computer and side load it to your Kobo. Even if you only have a tablet you can find a way to get the book on your Kobo. Yes it’ll be harder without a computer, but it can be done.

Could Kobo have worked out something with Overdrive where OD would distribute the book? Possibly. But I’d be surprised if anyone posting here would have knowledge of the reasons they didn’t or couldn’t have that happen. Aside from your favorite one, that it’d be a hardship on both companies to the point they judged it not worth doing.

It’s worth pointing out that since the integration of Overdrive on Kobo several years back there have only been a handful of people here who have found books they legitimately wanted to borrow which Kobo did not have. I believe they were non fiction and semi technical books though I’ll grant I may be misremembering on that.

I’m sure you searched the forum to try and substantiate the article’s claim so you probably came across whatever posts they’d have been mentioned in.

[patrik]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

It’s worth pointing out that since the integration of Overdrive on Kobo several years back there have only been a handful of people here who have found books they legitimately wanted to borrow which Kobo did not have. I believe they were non fiction and semi technical books though I’ll grant I may be misremembering on that.

Well, for us Swedish users there are only a tiny amount available for Overdrive via Kobo. We could be more pleased, let's say...

[Deskisamess]

Kindle book borrowing also goes thru Amazon, so I'll bet it would be the same. Once in a while a book from my library won't be available in Kindle format, so I have to use the Overdrive app on my phone or iPad.

But normal borrowing goes thru Amazon. It stands to reason if they don't carry a certain book, I can't get it for Kindle.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by zenji

This review claims that if Kobo doesn't sell a book, it will exclude it from Overdrive (at least in Australia). ...

It works this way in the U.S. also. If you want an eReader that will work with all ePub books on Overdrive (without going through your computer) both Tolinos and PocketBooks have ADE built in. Downloading books via the built-in eInk browser takes some patience though, so it's easier to download the .ascm file and move it to the Tolino or PocketBook via the USB cable. If you don't have a computer, but do have a smartphone, with PocketBook you can borrow the book with the smartphone and then "Send to PocketBook," which is simple and efficient. You're just sending the small .ascm file, the PocketBook downloads the book itself.

[4691mls]

Even among US Kobo users on Mobileread it varies how much of a problem this is. I've seen some people say they hardly ever run into a book they can't get on their Kobo but some people have had it happen more often.

I'm guessing it depends on what you like to read and which books your particular library has in stock.

If you have a computer you should still be able to read the books by getting them on your computer and transferring to the Kobo via Adobe Digital Editions.

I took Rcentros' suggestion a year or so ago and bought a used Tolino cheap from eBay. It's my go-to reader if I'm going to be away from home and think I might want to get a new library book. I usually use my smartphone to browse and check out, then on the Tolino I go to my library Loans and download the book. Browsing the library on e-ink is very slow.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by patrik

Well, for us Swedish users there are only a tiny amount available for Overdrive via Kobo. We could be more pleased, let's say...

The same in my country, a vanishingly small number of books available to borrow directly via my Kobo.