![]() ![]() This is worth watching because it reflects on the debate as to whether publishers should or even *can* start/increase direct-to-consumer ebook sales. With the majority of ebook readers committed to one walled garden or another, the business isn't exactly friendly to independent ebookstores anymore. The backend server and authentication costs for the webstore have a fixed component, in addition to the per-book costs. I suspect they are only dropping ADE on their site and doing it as a cost-saving move: I'm thinking this is Harlequin the bookstore reacting to their reduced ebook market share rather than Harlequin the publisher giving in to PiracyParanoiaâ„¢. ![]() I would not be prepared to trust either in the financial solvency of this company or the dubious ethical standards they have demonstrated in the past to keep my purchases accessible. Quite apart from my own strong preference for reading on e-ink devices the fact that I would not be able to back up my purchases alone would be enough for me to part ways with them. If I was one of their customers, which I am not, this would do it for me. Their reputation is in tatters after their treatment of authors in relation to royalties, and I suspect they will alienate many readers with this move. Personally I doubt it is going to help them and may well cause them serious harm. ![]() It is not inconceivable that they are losing many sales to Indies but are instead blaming piracy. I doubt it, but it is not totally impossible that it is playing a role, or at least that Harlequin thinks it is. Particularly if they are under financial pressure, which is also quite possible given that the Romance genre has come to be dominated by Indies. Certainly I doubt Adobe ADE licenses are particularly cheap, and this could well have played a role. We can only guess as to their motives for doing this. Also bad luck if you want to keep a backup once they dump ADE. If you want to read on an e-ink device except perhaps one running Android bad luck. ![]() Offline reading will be only through either a web browser or the app. I don't blame you for a bit of optimism, but it seems to me to be crystal clear that they are dumping Adobe. ![]()
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