Discovered during the week I was unable to access a Kindle book purchased in 2013. Reason? The order was “too old”, and refund issued to buy again. Which was pointless as the book is now more expensive than when I bought it.

Subsequently discovered 66(!!) other ebooks no longer available for download.

Currently 40 minutes in to a support chat with Amazon.

About to learn, I think, whether we purchase ebooks, or rent them…

[Edit: documenting progress in this thread https://mastodon.online/@monro/109812445178130161]

Rick Monro (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image The problem first appeared last week, when I attempted to open a book on my Kindle. The book cover appeared in my Library as normal. When I tapped on it, the following message appeared:

Mastodon

Outcome after 1 hour: I need to repurchase each book, then reclaim from Amazon.

Tech. Nol. O. Gy.

@monro sounds like a class action suit incoming
@rw007 @monro Unfortunately not: "Kindle Content is licensed, not sold, to you by the Content Provider." / Kindle ToS wall of text.
(I remembered writing about it back in '13 and looked it up again)
@Mabande @monro well, the button says „Buy“ - judges might see that a higher notion than hidden small print for consumers?
@Mabande @monro @rw007 Apparently a class action lawsuit was filed against amazon in California in 2020: https://www.wongfleming.com/digital-media-ownership-what-does-it-mean-to-purchase-or-buy-digital-media/ (I don't know what came of it - I've only just started googling the subject)
Digital Media Ownership: What does it mean to "purchase" or "buy" digital media? - Wong Fleming

June 9, 2020 | by Kishan P. Bhavsar In a recently filed lawsuit, a court may have to decide whether online providers of entertainment content are violating consumer protection laws when they claim to allow […]

Wong Fleming
@monro @Mabande @rw007 It was dismissed because the plaintiff never lost access to any of the purchased videos...