Patent Reveals Ad-Supported Books Coming to Kindle

Amazon has filed several patents that reveal possible realities coming soon to Kindle, their popular (and expensive) e-book reader.

The abstract says:

Access to an electronic version of a physical work is provided to a user. The electronic version of the physical work comprises images of the physical work that, when visually displayed, appear the same as the physical work. Access to the electronic version of the physical work is based on user ownership of the physical work. Access to a portion or all of the physical work may be provided in accordance with one or more access rules. A user may own a physical work by virtue of purchasing the physical work or purchasing an item that the physical work normally accompanies. A flag may be set for later reference to indicate user ownership of the physical work.

In simple terms, if you purchase a physical book from Amazon, then you’d also get a free electronic version of the same book for your Kindle, albeit littered with ads to either significantly reduce the cost or make it free altogether.

It’s not a bad idea, though I would rather see e-books offered for free without the need of purchasing an actual, physical copy. Ad-supported books may seem like the beginning of the end for human culture, but if Amazon can work it so more people are reading without going bankrupt, then that is something I can get behind.

More details at CNet.