Authors unhappy with Kindle Unlimited

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Now this is a major issue...



Because how does Amazon know if someone has read more then 10%? The way I read is I download, put the eBook into Calibre, side load, and read with the WiFi off. Even if I had a Kindle, the WiFi would be off and thus, no way to track my reading. So even if I finish the book, Amazon has no way of knowing that I've read more than 10%. This 10% is garbage and it's not fair for the authors as there is no way to 100% reliably track this 10%.

Technically Kindle Unlimited is a lending library, and the books should be downloaded and returned via the Kindle device/app.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by twowheels

Perhaps you should reconsider then? If you know that your practice is depriving the author of compensation, then how is that any different than pirating the book?

Because I don't read with the WiFi on.

If I was reading a book and I went to have a look at the copyright page which is usually at the back of an eBook these days, how would the Amazon or the Kindle know I had not read up to that part of the book?

Would data be sent back to Amazon saying I'm at the copyright and the author gets paid because I've gone past 10%?

I should not have to have the WiFi on if I do not want it on just for the author to maybe get paid.

This is a breakdown in the system. The system requires me to do what I would not do in order for the author to get paid. Could I return the borrow book via Kindle for PC? If so, I'd do it that way.

This is part of the problem. When I was last on vacation, I was away from home for 12 or 13 days. I barely had WiFi access. I had my Reader with me. So if I was reading an eBook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, I would not have been able to turn on the WiFi and send that I had read more then 10%. This is a major flaw in the system and Amazon should address it.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Because how does Amazon know if someone has read more then 10%? The way I read is I download, put the eBook into Calibre, side load, and read with the WiFi off. Even if I had a Kindle, the WiFi would be off and thus, no way to track my reading. So even if I finish the book, Amazon has no way of knowing that I've read more than 10%. This 10% is garbage and it's not fair for the authors as there is no way to 100% reliably track this 10%.

If you were to join KU, would you download, add to Calibre, remove DRM and sideload the book onto your Kobo?

[Demingy]

I don't have KU so I'm assuming/asking here, but don't you have to "return" the book to Amazon at some point? I would guess that Amazon could get the % read information when they verify the book is "returned", couldn't they?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Fbone

If you were to join KU, would you download, add to Calibre, remove DRM and sideload the book onto your Kobo?

If there was DRM, I would have to strip it in order to put it on my H2O. How does one return KU eBooks without a hardware Kindle?

[shalym]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If there was DRM, I would have to strip it in order to put it on my H2O. How does one return KU eBooks without a hardware Kindle?

One shouldn't remove DRM from a borrowed book, as one doesn't own it. If you wish to join Kindle Unlimited, you should either use your iPad to read, or buy a Kindle.

Would it be ok for someone who doesn't have access to Kindle books from their public library to remove the DRM in order to read on their Kindle?

Shari

[Atunah]

I have no issues putting my purchased ebooks into Calibre. But KU titles just like library titles are not mine. They are just borrowed. So they never go anywhere near calibre.

Although I don't always have wifi on either. I am not cancelled with KU, but when I had it, I only turned on wifi when I needed to get new books. I assumed that Amazon has a way to know how much I read of the KU title. If not, I don't really care that much. If wifi wasn't such a drain on the battery, I wouldn't mind having it on all the time, but it is a drain, so I have to turn it off.

As to author whining. Would be nice to hear something other than whines and complains from them.
Not holding my breath.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by shalym

One shouldn't remove DRM from a borrowed book, as one doesn't own it. If you wish to join Kindle Unlimited, you should either use your iPad to read, or buy a Kindle.

Would it be ok for someone who doesn't have access to Kindle books from their public library to remove the DRM in order to read on their Kindle?

Shari

I could read on an iPad. But as I am not a KU member, it's a non-issue.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I could read on an iPad. But as I am not a KU member, it's a non-issue.

So you made a lot of noise about a non-issue that doesn't affect you?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by twowheels

So you made a lot of noise about a non-issue that doesn't affect you?

It doesn't affect me even it I was a member as I am not an author. But it does effect authors and that's my point. this 10% or more or they don't get paid is stupid.

[cromag]

I don't belong to KU, and have never made use of any "borrowing" from Amazon, but I thought the "tools" wouldn't work on borrowed books, only on purchased books. I seem to remember someone complaining about not being able to remove DRM from a borrowed ebook.

[howyoudoin]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Now this is a major issue...



Because how does Amazon know if someone has read more then 10%? The way I read is I download, put the eBook into Calibre, side load, and read with the WiFi off. Even if I had a Kindle, the WiFi would be off and thus, no way to track my reading. So even if I finish the book, Amazon has no way of knowing that I've read more than 10%. This 10% is garbage and it's not fair for the authors as there is no way to 100% reliably track this 10%.

It's not fair on the authors because you chose to modify the file and make it un-trackable. Amazon has nothing to do with that "loophole". Amazon did not recommend that you employ that step or switch off your wifi. If you can turn on your wifi in order to download the book, you could be considerate and turn it on again after you're done with the book to update the servers with your read information so that the author gets paid. If you're on vacation and without wifi access, leave the book on the device and delete it after you've returned home and turned wifi on (although I reckon the device probably stores the read information at all times and simply phones it back home when you next connect to wifi, which makes it even simpler for you).

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It doesn't affect me even it I was a member as I am not an author. But it does effect authors and that's my point. this 10% or more or they don't get paid is stupid.

So authors who write tripe with catchy cover art that people drop after a few pages should get paid the same as authors who write nail biting page turners?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by twowheels

So authors who write tripe with catchy cover art that people drop after a few pages should get paid the same as authors who write nail biting page turners?

That's the way it works with any other system of book purchasing. Why should KU be different?

[howyoudoin]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's the way it works with any other system of book purchasing. Why should KU be different?

You're not purchasing a book.

It's a library. If I check out a book from my local public library, the author gets paid a pre-calculated amount. If I pick up a book from the shelf, browse through a few pages and put it back on the shelf because I don't like it, the author shouldn't and doesn't get paid.