Expiring Download and eReader Replacement FAQ
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What is the eReader Replacement File Program?
Fictionwise obtains "feeds" of eBooks from several different content aggregators, and these aggregators use their servers to deliver encrypted files to our customers. One of these aggregators recently gave Fictionwise notice that they would cease serving files to Fictionwise customers as of January 31, 2009. That means that eBooks purchased from Fictionwise via this aggregator's servers will no longer be downloadable after that date. To protect our customers' investment in eBooks, Fictionwise immediately ceased selling all affected eBooks and began negotiating with publishers to allow previously purchased affected eBooks to be substituted, where possible, with eReader format files.
How many purchased eBooks were affected by this?
Approximately 300,000 eBook units were affected. This is less than 4% of all eBooks sold by Fictionwise.
A portion of Secure Mobipocket, Secure Microsoft Reader, and Secure Adobe Digital Editions files are affected. No MultiFormat or Secure eReader files are affected.
How can I tell which of my eBook purchases might be affected?
In your bookshelf, go to the DISPLAY menu and select Download Expiring then click UPDATE. You will see a list of just those affected eBooks. After January 31, 2009 those books will "expire" and will no longer be downloadable. We suggest you download those eBooks one last time to make sure they are up to date for your current devices, and store them in a safe location, making backup copies where possible. Please download them one by one, do not use "Bulk Download" because that does not work for every type of Secure content, and it can have problems if you try to download a very large number of files at once.
Why can't Fictionwise store the files for me?
Each file is encrypted specifically for your device. It is not possible for Fictionwise to obtain the credentials for your devices and store the files on our server for most formats. The files actually never pass through our servers at all when you download them. If you do not already have working backup copies, we urge you to download your files again before January 31, 2009.
What if I need to download one of these eBooks after January 31, 2009?
Fictionwise has been working with publishers to get special agreements in place that allow us, where possible, to replace these expiring files with equivalent Secure eReader format files. So far we have gotten signed agreements with many of the largest publishers which cover approximately 80% of the affected files. We are continuing to negotiate with additional publishers and our goal is to provide replacements for all affected files in the coming weeks.
How can I find all my eReader replacement eBooks?
In the DISPLAY menu on the left side of your Bookshelf, select the menu item "Download Expiring Replacements" and click SAVE CHANGES. You will see all of your Secure eReader replacement ebooks.
What if I prefer a format other than Secure eReader?
It is not contractually possible for us to substitute the original format you purchased; however, because we own the eReader format, we can replace the expiring eBooks with eReader files. Learn more about the eReader format here.
What if there is no eReader client for my device?
eReader currently works on hundreds of different devices including PC, Mac, Symbian, Windows Mobile, PocketPC, Palm, and iPhone/iPod touch devices. We are adding support for new devices all the time. Within the next few months we will have support for Blackberry, Android, Linux, and several e-ink devices, for example. By mid-2009 it will be clear that eReader has the broadest platform coverage of any eBook reading system. For the vast majority of our customers, the eReader replacement files we are providing will work on their current and future devices. You can of course download your affected purchases before January 31, 2009 and continue to use those files until we support your platform (if we do not already).
Why are you not able to substitute every single affected file with eReader format?
In some cases we are simply still tracking down the publisher to obtain permission. In some cases the eBook in question was not yet converted to eReader format. We are diligently working through each of these situations. Over the coming weeks, you may see more and more of your expiring purchases replaced with Secure eReader substitutes. We have already added replacements for over 80% of the affected purchases. Our goal is to provide eReader replacements for all affected files.
Can I download both the original file and the eReader replacement files of my eBooks?
You may continue to download the original versions until January 31, 2009. The eReader replacement versions may be downloaded at the same time, and those will continue to be downloadable indefinitely.
I thought Fictionwise guarantees all eBooks will remain on my bookshelf forever?
Fictionwise strives to maintain backup copies of your purchases available for re-download indefinitely, but our terms of service do not guarantee that they will be available for re-download forever. For all formats other than Mobipocket, a re-download is not necessary to transfer the file to a new device. Forever is a long time. We have control of our MultiFormat files and we have control of the Secure eReader format, so that gives us the ability to ensure we will continue to be able to deliver those formats to you. However, as noted above, other formats are delivered through third party aggregators. We do not have legal control of those third party servers. If those third party servers "go dark" for one reason or another, we have no way to continue delivering those files.
It is important to note that other eBook retailers such as Barnes and Noble, Gemstar, and Amazon.com's original eBook store circa 2004 did not make any effort to maintain long term customer access to purchased material when they shut down their eBook operations in the past. They announced a time period for final download then shut down the servers. Fictionwise is expending considerable effort to make eReader replacement files available so you still have a way to access your purchases long term. We're doing that because we value our customers' investment in content.
Will my affected content be unusable after January 31?
They will continue to function on your devices after January 31. January 31 is simply the last date that you can re-download a new copy of the file from Fictionwise. You should maintain backups of your files.
What if I get a new device after January 31?
For Adobe Reader format, you may transfer your downloaded file to a new device authorized using the same "Named Activation" account without re-downloading it from us. We strongly recommend you use the "Named Activation" method for your final downloads of Adboe Reader content. See our Adobe FAQ for more details.
For Microsoft Reader, you will be able to read your downloaded file on future devices as long as they are activated using the same Microsoft passport as your final download used. See our Microsoft Reader FAQ under the activation section.
For Mobipocket format, you will not be able to read the content on future devices you may own, because Mobipocket format stamps each file with your current set of device IDs. However, you could use your eReader replacement files in most cases to read on a new device. Your Mobipocket files will continue to function on whatever set of devices you had on file as of the date of your final download from us.
I read on a blog that all my Fictionwise purchases will become unreadable after January 31 and then I'll lose all my content. Is this true?
Absolutely, positively not. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there, including highly misleading articles from people who really should know better. This situation absolutely does not affect all Fictionwise files or even all encrypted Fictionwise files. It only affects a few percent of all the eBooks we have ever sold.
After January 31, 2009, you will no longer be able to re-download any expiring files. But the files you have downloaded will still of course function for as long as the device you downloaded it for works, which in most cases should be years. Some blogs are incorrectly stating that all those ebooks will stop functioning on January 31, 2009. That's hogwash.
Not only that, we have already replaced 80% of the affected files through agreements with publishers to substitute eReader format, with more substitutions in the works in the coming weeks. We think we will be able to substitute virtually all of them given a little more time to negotiate with publishers and work on getting some files converted.
So, on just about every level imaginable, blog posts like this are utterly false. Your eBooks will continue to function on whatever devices you download them to, as long as you have those devices. We are making replacements available. Your investment in content is safe at Fictionwise.
Could this happen to some of my other content in the future?
Because we own the eReader format, and because we serve all MultiFormat files ourselves, we can ensure continued availability of these purchased formats indefinitely. We cannot absolutely guarantee future availability of files delivered through third party aggregators, which currently includes all Secure Microsoft Reader, Secure Mobipocket, and Secure Adobe Digital Editions eBooks. This is why we strongly recommend MultiFormat and Secure eReader formats above other choices.
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