DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) said it would modify the new version of
its Kindle electronic-book reader to allow authors and publishers
to decide whether they want the text-to-speech function used for a
particular title.
The Seattle company insists its new text-reading feature is
legal because "no copy is made, no derivative work is created, and
no performance is being given."
"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," Amazon.com said in a press release Friday
afternoon.
The Kindle 2 began shipping Tuesday.
Amazon.com said it has begun work on the technical changes
required to give authors and publishers the choice of enabling or
disabling text-to-speech on individual books.
The company added that it believes many will decide allowing the
feature is in their commercial interests.
Some publishers and agents expressed concern about the Kindle
2's feature that reads text aloud with a computer-generated
voice.
Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, had said
the right to read a book out loud is an audio right, which is
protected under copyright law.
An Amazon.com spokesman had noted the text-reading feature
depends on text-to-speech technology, and that listeners won't
confuse it with the audiobook experience. Amazon.com owns Audible,
a leading audiobook provider.
Originally launched in November 2007, Kindle has been so popular
that it was out of stock during the key December holiday-shopping
period for the past two years.
Amazon.com's shares were at $64.69, down 10 cents, in
after-hours trading.
-By Kathy Shwiff, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5975;
Kathy.Shwiff@dowjones.com