If you have a Kindle and "bought" ebooks over the years, you have a week to download and back up your files before Amazon blocks you from doing that.
There are scripts (see the thread below) that will bulk-download.
It's a reminder that Amazon is a rapacious monopolist.
I predicted this outcome when Kindle first debuted. I have never bought an e-book because of it.
Are you familiar with the Wal-Mart digital media fiasco? This is not at all the first time this has happened. There were precedents, as well as the writing on the wall.
Good ask! It's been ages since I read about - not personally encountered - the incident. Here, found some:
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22413031
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/wal-mart-closes-movie-download-service-1.654648
That was just one incident, though, because Wal-Mart also backpedaled on an MP3 store and probably other things I don't even remember.
https://musically.com/2011/08/10/wal-mart-shutting-its-music-downloads-store-this-month/
https://phys.org/news/2011-08-walmart-online-music.html
> The company had attempted to kill its DRM servers in 2008—leaving its previous customers out in the cold if they were to need re-authorization—but later decided to leave the DRM servers online after receiving bad customer feedback.
Dan Gillmor
VulcanTourist
Baron Vonskinnback