Audiobook Publishers Cry Foul on Kindle Feature.
Not long ago, I wrote about Amazon’s Kindle 2 with its Text-to-Speech feature. The option lends an electronically voice to downloaded books on the Kindle device. This is no substitute for audiobook narration, but some publishers are crying foul, saying that this violates copyrights and will affect audiobook sales.
Raising Questions
The Author’s Guild has raised the question as to whether Amazon has the right to provide a voice, electronic or otherwise, to a copyrighted written book. This issue was raised even before the Kindle 2 was released and it continues to generate interest. The bottom line question is whether this feature violates the rights to the audiobook and will it ultimately affect audio sales?
No Easy Answers
Kindle 2’s technology is new and revolutionary. As such, it is open for interpretation. Copyright owners have the right to prepare derivative works. Whether the electronic reading can be defined as a derivative work is unclear. The voice is a streaming product, so it may not be subject to copyright laws. Amazon claims that “Kindle 2’s experimental text-to-speech feature is legal. No copy is made, no derivative work is created, and no performance is being given.” They have compared it to a book simply being read aloud.
Amazon Kindle
The Real Question
Flags were raised and lawsuits were threatened. Ultimately, the bottom line issue is whether the Kindle 2 speech feature will decrease sales of audiobooks.
The Answer
Even though Amazon does not believe that they are in violation of copyright law, they decided to give control of the feature to the copyright owners. This means that some of the titles you purchase for your Kindle may not have the speech feature enabled.
In May, Random House Publishers began to disable the features on several works of bestselling authors.
This means that not only will new downloads be unable to access the feature, but existing purchased downloads will have the feature disabled.
Opinion
In my opinion as a reader, it doesn’t really matter whether Amazon continues to offer the Text-to-Speech. Its electronic voice was no substitute for a professionally recorded audiobook. A big part of the enjoyment that I derive from listening to a book is the performance of the voice artist. If I want to listen to a book, I will not be using a Kindle to do so. (I know, I can’t afford one anyway, but you get the idea.) Amazon Kindle
By Dorothy Distefano
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Dorothy,
I don’t think that the audio feature on the Kindle 2 will hurt audio book sales. In my opinion, it is more of an accessibility issue than an issue of market share. The speech on the Kindle 2 sounds horrible. It can’t even pronounce Barack Obama.
Even with the best text to speech voice (ours – and I’m not lying, you can see for yourself), I don’t think the text to speech feature would take away any market share from traditionally narrated audio books. There is no way that a computer generated algorithm can match the quality of a human.
An audio book is performed, not read.
Best,
Heath from iSpeech.org
It is really sad that publishers think that way. Text-to-Speech functions no way will ever replace an audio book, the people who choose to listen to them do for different reasons. But not having text-to-speech on all books is closing the market to a lot of books for people with disabilities.
Actually I would have expected that book sales would increase, books that my clients with print disabilities did not have access to because they could not purchase them in a digital format to be read with a text-to-speech programs, are dependent on organizations who will scan and provide the text for them, or wait until they come out with an “audio version’ if ever.
When it was announced that the Kindle would have text-to-speech on their device a client of mine came in so excited, now she can purchase the best sellers and read them with everyone else. The key word is “purchase” and not wait until Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic or other group could “alter” the book for her.
The publishers are making a big mistake……..
Tami
Heath,
I totally agree. I think audiobook publishers are unnecessarily alarmed. I would NEVER listen to a book on a Kindle. It would be torture.
I visited your site. Very nice, indeed!
Regards,
Dorothy
@Tami: That is a huge drawback. I would think that academic publishers would embrace the feature as would those who don’t market audiobooks.
Putting the feature in the publishers’ hands seems to be a cowardly move on Amazon’s part. However, as a business, they cannot afford to alienate those who convert their text to Kindle format. This is a compromise that allows publishers and Amazon to win… but what about readers?
@Dorothy:
Exactly Dorothy… A completely kneejerk, reactionary response by the Author’s Guild and publishers.
Thanks for the positive review of iSpeech.org
You’ll be happy to know that we’ve been teaming up with other eBook reader manufacturers and iPhone App builders to bring quality speech to mobile eBook reading. I’ll make sure to keep you updated as we have some other game changing apps (top secret) coming early September.
Best,
Heath from iSpeech.org
@Audio Book Text to Speech:
Oh, I love my iPod touch and am an app junkie! I look forward to hearing about your projects!
Dorothy