Audible: Difference between revisions
Added mention of diluting royalties with AI content. Still needs citations for various incidents |
Beefed it up to something comprehendable. Changed stub for incomplete notice. Added tone notice |
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{{ | {{Incomplete|Issue 1=No references|Issue 2=Sections need to be elaborated}}{{ToneWarning}}{{CompanyCargo | ||
{{CompanyCargo | |||
|Founded=1995 | |Founded=1995 | ||
|Industry=Entertainment | |Industry=Entertainment | ||
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|Website=https://www.audible.com/ | |Website=https://www.audible.com/ | ||
|Description=An audiobook and podcast service | |Description=An audiobook and podcast service | ||
}} | }}'''Audible''' is an audiobook and podcast service company owned by [[Amazon]]. The service platform has a dual content model that allows for individual purchases and downloads as well as streaming content available through a monthly subscription. | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
{{ | ===Audiobook monopoly=== | ||
As a subsidiary of Amazon, a company that started as an online bookstore that now owns roughly 90% or more of the ebook industry {{Citation needed}}, Audible holds about 60% of audiobooks, leading to widespread criticism of monopoly behavior{{Citation needed}}. | |||
=== DRM === | |||
Audible has their own file format for audiobooks which is called AAX file format and it contains DRM. This creates an ecosystem lock-in, causing users to use third-party software to break the DRM in order to listen to the audiobooks they've purchased outside of the Audible platform {{Citation needed}}. | |||
=== Geo-blocking === | |||
Audible engages in geo-blocking, restricting certain content based upon the geographic location of the user. | |||
=== | === Exploitative contracts === | ||
Like [[Kindle]] publishing, Audibe requests exclusive publishing to their platform; otherwise, rightsholders like authors and publishers are subjected to Audible's 75% cut of royalties{{Citation needed}}. Digital media like ebooks and audiobooks tend to be the most lucrative medium for rightsholders as they cost the least to produce, so it is greatly exploitative when a digital platform demands a 75% cut to host the content. | |||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
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Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article). | Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article). | ||
===Alleged enrollment | ===Alleged non-consensual enrollment=== | ||
{{Main|Amazon sued for enrolling and charging customers into Audible without consent}} | {{Main|Amazon sued for enrolling and charging customers into Audible without consent}} | ||
Amazon, and Audible by extension, is currently under a pending class-action lawsuit due to allegedly enrolling Amazon customers into the Audible subscription without permission. This is possible due to Amazon's [[forced retention of payment methods]] in which the company holds customers' card information for "faster checkout." | Amazon, and Audible by extension, is currently under a pending class-action lawsuit due to allegedly enrolling Amazon customers into the Audible subscription without permission. This is possible due to Amazon's [[forced retention of payment methods]] in which the company holds customers' card information for "faster checkout." | ||
=== Encouraging AI use === | ===Encouraging AI use=== | ||
Audible openly encourages AI use with the understanding ding that indie authors who self-publish may rely heavily on AI for content generation and book quantity. This | Audible openly encourages AI use with the understanding ding that indie authors who self-publish may rely heavily on AI for content generation and book quantity{{Citation needed}}. This has led to speculation that Audible is diluting the pool of author royalties{{Citation needed}}. | ||
==Products== | ==Products== | ||
{{ | Since 2015, Audible has attempted to create original content throughout the years, but few have proven successful, including short-form content{{Citation needed}}. Now, they seek creator exclusivity by providing attractive deals to podcasters and other creators to publish exclusively on Audible{{Citation needed}}. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== |