Audible: Difference between revisions
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==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
===Audiobook monopoly=== | ===Audiobook monopoly=== | ||
Amazon, the parent company of Audible, | Amazon, the parent company of Audible, in collaboration with Apple Books (which would otherwise be its biggest competitor), controls approximately 80% of the audiobook market.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Vaidehi |date=24 Sep 2024 |title=Authors Battle Amazon Over Audiobook Monopoly |url=https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/courtside/authors-battle-amazon-over-audiobook-monopoly/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Sep 2025 |website=FindLaw}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Martin A. |date=25 Jun 2025 |title=ANTITRUST—S.D.N.Y.: Romance author’s claims of monopolization against Amazon Audible proceed |url=https://www.vitallaw.com/news/antitrust-s-d-n-y-romance-author-s-claims-of-monopolization-against-amazon-audible-proceed/ald01b74df89519124657a56b4e6c1589c2c8 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Sep 2025 |website=VitalLaw}}</ref> Audible itself is the world's leading retailer of audiobook purchases, with over 60% of domestic and global sales.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Amazon Audible Audiobook Antitrust |url=https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/amazon-audible-audiobook-antitrust |url-status=live |access-date=16 Sep 2025 |website=Hagens Berman}}</ref> | ||
===Exclusive file format=== | ===Exclusive file format=== | ||
Audible uses the AAX file format which | Audible uses the AAX file format, which was developed by Audible and is [[DRM]]-encrypted,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=All about AAX Files |url=https://filext.com/file-extension/AAX |url-status=live |access-date=16 Sep 2025 |website=FILExt}}</ref> making it so that only Audible-authorized players can play it.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |first= |date=10 Jan 2024 |title=Recommended AAX Player for Windows/Mac/Android/iOS |url=https://www.dumpmedia.com/audible-converter/aax-player.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 Sep 2025 |website=DumpMedia}}</ref> This creates an ecosystem lock-in<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />, forcing users to rely on third-party software to break the DRM to listen to the audiobooks they have purchased outside of the Audible platform <ref name=":4" />, as evidenced by the multitude of converters that show up with a cursory "Audible AAX" search on any web browser. | ||
===Geo-blocking=== | ===Geo-blocking=== | ||
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{{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 | Amazon, and Audible by extension, is currently facing a pending class-action lawsuit due to allegedly enrolling Amazon customers into Audible subscriptions without their permission. This is possible due to Amazon's [[forced retention of payment methods]] in which the company holds customers' card information for "faster checkout." | ||
===Controversial encouragement of AI use=== | ===Controversial encouragement of AI use=== | ||
As of 2025, Audible is planning to integrate AI Narration and Translation solutions later in the year starting with a roll-out of select publishers,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 May 2025 |title=Audible Expands Catalog with AI Narration and Translation for Publishers |url=https://www.audible.com/about/newsroom/audible-expands-catalog-with-ai-narration-and-translation-for-publishers |url-status=live |access-date=16 Sep 2025 |website=Audible}}</ref> which has been met with criticism by numerous writers, translators and voice | As of 2025, Audible is planning to integrate AI Narration and Translation solutions later in the year, starting with a roll-out of select publishers,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 May 2025 |title=Audible Expands Catalog with AI Narration and Translation for Publishers |url=https://www.audible.com/about/newsroom/audible-expands-catalog-with-ai-narration-and-translation-for-publishers |url-status=live |access-date=16 Sep 2025 |website=Audible}}</ref> which has been met with criticism by numerous writers, translators, and voice actors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Lucy |date=13 May 2025 |title=Audible unveils plans to use AI voices to narrate audiobooks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/may/13/audible-unveils-plans-to-use-ai-voices-to-narrate-audiobooks |url-status=live |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> | ||
<!--==Products==--> | <!--==Products==--> | ||