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How do closed proprietary e-book systems limit where readers can access purchased books?

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A person holds a Sony e-reader displaying text in front of a large illuminated sign reading e-book multiple times at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. — e-book An e-reader on display at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany, 2012.

Closed, proprietary e-book systems limit where readers can access purchased books by utilizing digital rights management (DRM) software. This technology functions as an encryption and access-control system that locks e-books to both a customer’s specific identity and the proprietary software controlled by the company, such as Amazon Kindle or Apple Books.12

Because these systems are closed, they restrict the interoperability of e-book files. Even if a device is technically capable of opening common formats like PDF or EPUB, the presence of proprietary DRM often prevents that software from accessing the files. Consequently, readers are generally confined to using the specific applications or devices authorized by the company from which they purchased the content.2

From an ethical standpoint, the use of DRM is a subject of intense debate. Critics argue that it unfairly restricts consumer rights and criminalizes reasonable sharing, while proponents maintain it is a necessary tool for protecting intellectual property from piracy.2