How Jeff Bezos took on Orwell and Lost

The recent news that Amazon had deleted digital copies of Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm from Kindles got me thinking today. It really goes to show that when a company like Amazon put so much into a device (which is really a pretty cool device) and think they can get away with redefining the landscape of reading, writing, publishing and ultimately, all the forms of business surrounding these activities, that they will ultimately meet Orwell. Bezos made such a ruckus about the Kindle being so much more than just a gadget. The Whispernet delivery and the access to Amazon make it a service as much as a gizmo, Bezos argued.

So, when purchased content suddenly becomes “unavailable” what we have is a Digital Age / DRM case of “Out-of-Print”. Which is kind of funny that Amazon would, for all their effort to make print digital, find that they too are subject to the rule of copyrights, and instead of people being angry at the Orwell folks, we’re all pissed at Amazon.

So, I’m just going to suggest that those Kindle owners who are feeling angry about this, remember that no matter what Jeff Bezos says in the sales pitch, you bought a gadget. Now, put it away and go to indiebound, locate a nice independent bookstore in your area or online and buy yourself a nice paperback. I assure you it will make you feel better.