Amazon Patent Details Ad-Supported Kindle Books
Amazon has filed a patent that describes how to take the obvious, heretofore un-stepped step of filling ebooks with contextual, timely advertising. Whether it would mean free, discounted, or tiered-price books (or none of the above) it’s an interesting idea.
As you can see from the diagram above, there’s nothing terribly complex about the proposed system: banner ads sit atop and beside select pages, and can be catered to suit the page’s content, the book’s subject matter, or simply the reader’s assume demographic. It’s a bit like, you know, how the entire internet works, except in a book, so it gets a patent I guess?
A second, similar filing describes pretty much the same deal, this time for on-demand printed books.
Given how simple the patent is, and how eager Amazon seems to make a little extra scratch from their reader, the real question about the possibility of ebook ads is how they’d fit into the Kindle ecosystem. On this, that patent offers a few clues:
Including advertising and/or related content with on-demand printed content may prove advantageous to a consumer. For example, a lower price may be offered to a consumer regarding a request for on-demand printed content if the consumer is willing to accept advertising in the printed content
This is a “for example” section in a patent application, so it should be taken as such. But it’s interesting to think: an ebook advertising rollout—at least, a simple one, with static, predetermined ads—would be as simple as adding new listings to the Kindle Store. [Register]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Wow, absolutely would NOT buy an upgrade for my Kindle if that's the case. I'd do the switch to another eReader in a heartbeat. NO way do I want ads to interfere with my reading.
One thought, though, is that perhaps they are considering giving them away or for an extremely reduced cost if you get the ad-based version. Kindle users buy WAY more books than other readers based on my own and other readers experiences, so perhaps they are banking on finding a way to capitalize on that. Offer an ad-free reader for an overpriced cost and ads for the cheap reader.
Crystal King
@TetsuBo: After all, this generation doesn't spend its time reading.
As long as those ads are not distracting as that we are forced to read them or click/press on something to get rid of them, I probably wouldn't mind.
Bernadette Daugherty
@weatherman: ads ruin websites. necessary evil? possibly. stupidly annoying? absolutely.
they are annoying and an eye sore.
if a website got infested with ads, i stoppped going. at least until adblock found it's way into my life.
Ads are a necessary evil. Sure, nobody opts for them when they don't have to, but without them we literally wouldn't have TV, newspapers, magazines or websites like Gizmodo. So the fact that Amazon is considering a way to bring them to the Kindle makes perfect sense. As long as there is an option to pay for ad-free versions, I don't mind it a bit. In fact, I think it's a food idea because it will put more information in the hands of more people for less money. And it will sell more BubbleYum, which will just make this world a happier place.
*this comment brought to you by BubbleYum
First accessories available for Kindle 3: a vast array of cases the cover up the edges of the screen.
chefgon
I run adblock for a reason. If I want to buy something I go look it up; I don't need commercials force fed to me my every waking second. Hopefully they've already decided not to use those blinking ads. Can you imagine an e-ink screen trying to refresh that?
@SnehaArion: I agree. The whole point of the Kindle is the ability for book-lovers like us to enjoy them without having to spend exorbitant amounts of money or constantly be running up to the library.
Another good reason to not buy a Kindle. Just the thought that they are thinking about this is annoying.
daqman
We have always thought that it would be a nice idea to have ads in software packages.
The printing page would have links to ink sellers, the image editing page would have links to stock photo houses, etc...
it would take me all of 20 minutes to externally mask off those designated areas. Totally worth it if the books will be free.
SnehaArion
I can already see the "AdBlock sleeve for Kindle"
sova
OK It's bad enough they force us to read books on it which nobody likes, but they want us to look at adverts, and yet theirs still no color screen version
Andre Ondre
I'm thinking it would be better to do ads in between pages or something. Similar to Spotify or a regular TV commercial.
Having ads at the side of the text, it'd probably take me forever to get through a page when you're getting distracted by that.
Luckily I don't read books. :)
@spyguy99: they*
I would not like ads in my book, unless the subsidized the price of a Kindle, then maybe I would reconsider.
I personally don't see why there needs a to be a patent on this "business model". Banner advertisements on an electronic device. Just do it. No need to setup a system where if anyone else puts ads on their electronic device that they should have to license that ability.
Besides, prior art already exists for, "advertising and/or related content with on-demand printed content" - just look at all the "Print Now" options that are on web pages which will also print the advertisements (not stripped) on the content's printed page.