Amazon relents following Kindle 2 text-to-speech criticism

by Stevie Smith - Mar 2 2009, 16:30

In a move to deflect mounting criticism against the new Kindle 2 electronic book reader’s text-to-speech capabilities, creator Amazon has pledged to retract the feature’s default placement and hand inclusion to content rights holders on a title-by-title basis.

Although insisting in an official statement that the Kindle 2’s “experimental” text-to-speech function is completely legal, adding that, “no copy is made, no derivative work is created, and no performance is given,” the online retail titan appears to have relented in order to avoid any resulting legal entanglements with authors and/or publishers regarding usage.

“…we strongly believe many rightsholders will be more comfortable with the text-to-speech feature if they are in the driver’s seat,” explained Amazon in a statement released on Friday.

By allowing content owners to choose whether their work is open to Kindle 2 audio conversion, Amazon is attempting to address a number of complaints emanating from rights holders concerned that the advanced text-to-speech feature will be used without the payment of due royalties, which are usually paid whenever written material is converted into an audio book format.

Concerns have grown to such a degree that the Author’s Guild has recommended all of its members actively explore the possibility of usage on the Kindle electronic book reader whenever they find themselves negotiating book contracts.

The totally revamped Kindle 2 electronic book reader begins shipping to customers in the United States from this week with an attached price of $360 USD. Beyond boasting a more obviously streamlined aesthetic, the second-generation Kindle is capable of holding up to 1,500 books. 

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