Amazon's announcement of the Kindle 2 is just days old, and controversy is already brewing. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the Kindle 2 includes a new function that "reads text aloud with a computer-generated voice." Paul Aiken, the executive director of the Authors Guild, claims the Kindle 2 doesn't "have the right to read a book out loud" because "[t]hat's an audio right, which is derivative under copyright law."
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Kindle 2 Controversy
Amazon's announcement of the Kindle 2 is just days old, and controversy is already brewing. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the Kindle 2 includes a new function that "reads text aloud with a computer-generated voice." Paul Aiken, the executive director of the Authors Guild, claims the Kindle 2 doesn't "have the right to read a book out loud" because "[t]hat's an audio right, which is derivative under copyright law."
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2 comments:
That's weird. According to the "buy me!" Amazon video, the read-aloud voice is no more than a computer attempting to sound out the words. Some words seriously sound wrong, like the computer got stuck or something. A curious debate though. Still, it's a bit soon, don't you think? I mean, seriously...
I believe that the AG ought to be ashamed of itself! What about the visually impaired?(my own mother is visually impaired due to complications of diabetes)
I would love to buy Kindle 2 and its books so that my Mom could have back what she has so loved all her life, literature.The read-to-me feature is the reason I want this. Wouldn't the blocking of this be against the ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act)? I highly believe that this attempt to block by the AG could (and should!) be successfully challenged in a court of law if the AG wishes to take it that far.A book, once purchased, may be read aloud by anyone! My friend and I exchange soft and hardback books that we've purchased and read. Is that unlawful?? What the heck have we, as a nation, become?There are many people who are "shut-ins" and unable to obtain the books by any other means and many are unable to read it themselves, due to either illiteracy or visual impairment. Should they be denied? That is an outrage of the highest order and needs to be stopped now!
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