[A2k] Amazon and Bertelsmann turn off text to speech even in Kindle books that have zero price

[Miles Teg]

Is this not discrimination against people with disabilities? Are there
no human rights norms which while not obliging positive action from
owners/creators, it can create negative rights to prevent the shut
off/blocking of available technology?



James Love wrote:
> http://www.keionline.org/blogs/2009/06/12/kindle2-soundproof-free-books/
>
> Amazon and Bertelsmann turn off text to speech even in Kindle books that
> have zero price
>
> By kei-staff, on June 12th, 2009
> At least four imprints of Random House (Ballantine, Dell, Del Rey and
> Spectra) have turned off text to speech in Kindle books that they give
> away at a zero price. Random House is owned by Bertelsmann AG, the
> German publishing giant. What is the rationale for soundproofing* these
> books?
>
> Here are some examples of DRM=E2=80=99d soundproof books that they are fr=
ee to
> Kindle users who do not have visual impairments.
>
> [*George Kerscher and Jim Fruchterman, "The Soundproof Book: Exploration
> of Rights Conflict and Access to Commercial EBooks for People with
> Disabilities," First Monday, Volume. 7, Number 6 - 3 June 2002.]
>
> Kiss of Midnight (Kindle Edition)
> by Lara Adrian (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Dell (May 1, 2007)
>
> His Majesty=E2=80=99s Dragon (Kindle Edition)
> by Naomi Novik (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 28, 2006)
>
> Assassin=E2=80=99s Apprentice (Kindle Edition)
> by Robin Hobb (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Spectra (November 5, 2002)
>
> Weapons of Choice (Axis of Time, Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
> by John Birmingham (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Ballantine Books (June 1, 2004)
>
> Elric: The Stealer of Souls (Kindle Edition)
> by Michael Moorcock (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 19, 2008)
>
> For Love of Mother Not (Kindle Edition)
> by Alan Dean Foster (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 26, 2002)
>
> Settling Accounts Return Engagement: Book One of the Settling Accounts
> Trilogy (Kindle Edition)
> by Harry Turtledove (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 3, 2004)
>
> Red Mars (Kindle Edition)
> by Kim Stanley Robinson (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Spectra (May 27, 2003)
>
> Magic Kingdom for Sale=E2=80=93Sold! (Kindle Edition)
> by Terry Brooks (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Del Rey (December 17, 2008)
>
> Blood Engines (Kindle Edition)
> by T.A. Pratt (Author)
> Kindle Price: $0.00
> Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
> Publisher: Spectra (September 25, 2007)
>
> For more on soundproof books:
> http://www.readingrights.org
> http://www.keionline.org/blogs/2009/05/17/sound-proof-books/
> http://www.keionline.org/blogs/2009/06/07/kindle2-more-tts-off/
>
>
>
> --
> James Love, Director, Knowledge Ecology International
> http://www.keionline.org | mailto:james.love at keionline.org
> Wk: +1.202.332.2671 | US Mobile +1.202.361.3040 | Geneva Mobile
> +41.76.413.6584
> --
> James Love, Director, Knowledge Ecology International
> http://www.keionline.org | mailto:james.love at keionline.org
> Wk: +1.202.332.2671 | US Mobile +1.202.361.3040 | Geneva Mobile +41.76.41=
3.6584
>
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