Related News
Amazon.com backtracks on Kindle text-to-speech
Source: Agencies |
February 28, 2009, Saturday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
AMAZON.COM Inc. changed course yesterday and said it would allow copyright holders to decide whether they will permit their works to be read aloud using the second-generation Kindle electronic reader's new text-to-speech feature.
The move comes nearly two weeks after a group representing authors expressed concern that the feature, which was intended to be able to read every book, blog, magazine and newspaper out loud, would undercut separate audiobook sales. The Kindle can read text in a somewhat stilted electronic voice.
Amazon said in a statement that it, too, has a stake in the success of the audiobook market, and pointed to its Brilliance Audio and Audible subsidiaries, which publish and sell professionally recorded readings.
"Nevertheless, we strongly believe many rights holders will be more comfortable with the text-to-speech feature if they are in the driver's seat," the company said.
Amazon is working on the technical changes needed for authors and publishers to turn text-to-speech off for individual titles.
The Web retailer also said the text-to-speech feature is legal - and wouldn't require Amazon to pay out additional royalties - because a book read aloud doesn't constitute a copy, a derivative work or a performance.
The move comes nearly two weeks after a group representing authors expressed concern that the feature, which was intended to be able to read every book, blog, magazine and newspaper out loud, would undercut separate audiobook sales. The Kindle can read text in a somewhat stilted electronic voice.
Amazon said in a statement that it, too, has a stake in the success of the audiobook market, and pointed to its Brilliance Audio and Audible subsidiaries, which publish and sell professionally recorded readings.
"Nevertheless, we strongly believe many rights holders will be more comfortable with the text-to-speech feature if they are in the driver's seat," the company said.
Amazon is working on the technical changes needed for authors and publishers to turn text-to-speech off for individual titles.
The Web retailer also said the text-to-speech feature is legal - and wouldn't require Amazon to pay out additional royalties - because a book read aloud doesn't constitute a copy, a derivative work or a performance.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
