[JoZ]

Is this a very big OOPS in Kindle technology? I know it's the opposite of an OOPS from the sales and revenue perspective. And maybe that's all that's driving it. But I would even pay extra (maybe even the full cost of the book if it was one of the relatively cheap ones) to be able to put it in a friend's cache to download.

My cousins (three sisters) set up a joint/dummy account that they all can access. Well I didn't have the foresight to do that. I'm not even sure that would work when I buy a Kindle book anyway. Maybe I'm just ignorant of the process and/or of the ways around it!

So IS there a way to share Kindle books and if so, is it legit or shady?

[JanM]

If you look on Amazon's website there are loans for kindle books now, and apparently that included borrowing from Amazon/Kindle, and between customers too. They now loan the Harry Potter books (they've been advertising all day on their website), and the only restriction is you have to be a Prime member (I am, but for other uses, not kindle). I didn't read it all that throughly, but I think for free loans that they have a good program for Prime members, but I don't know about other Amazon customers' borrowing rights. And some libraries do have downloadable books. There are a lot of downloadable books on various websites connected to individual libraries or other services, but that depends on the individual provider.

[carolprudm]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200549320

Also there are lots of free books available some of which are quite good. You can also borrow ebooks from your library and i just saw a notice that you will be able to borrow the Harry Potter series

didn't realize HP was for Prime members only
http://www.amazon.com/

[Gloria]

What do you mean? Kindle is setup so books can be "lent" and "borrowed", just like you can lend out your paper books. The other person just needs to have Kindle; that's all.

[IdahoRider]

I asked this question from the Amazon help desk when I first got my Kindle Fire last Christmas. The answer was "Yes" and "No".

You can share books between devices as long as the devices are held in the same account. Technically, you can add a friend's device to your account, transfer the book and then remove the friend's device from your account. Amazon doesn't encourage this and it is not how they intended for the shared account to work. I have never tried it, not even after my husband got his own Kindle a few months ago.

Amazon Prime members can "borrow" some books. However, you are limited to just one borrowed book a month and the Prime service costs $79 a year (there are other benefits to Prime).

Many public libraries have some type of eBook program now. Check your local branch for what might be available.
Sheilah
ETA: After researching on Amazon, it looks like some titles are lendable from disconnected devices. I went through and checked my books and out of the 46 titles I have downloaded into my Kindle, three of them are lendable.

[Spooks]

You can set up a new account and have multiple people register to that account. Just be careful because it will have one person's credit card associated with it and it is awfully easy to buy new books on someone else's card!

I think in the US some libraries are starting to introduce e-book lending (or will be very soon), so check with your local library to see if/when that might be available.

[Event4Life]

You can legally buy HP from pottermore.com for any e-reader :-D :-D :-D. When you buy it you have 8 versions so it can go on a kindle+nook+another kindle+ipod+whatever, etc. I got so so excited when I saw this, because I strongly disapprove of pirating books and really wanted the HP series for my kindle. Thanks to Amazons advertisement I discovered pottermore last night and now have them! And when I next am in the UK, I'm going to buy the British versions :-D :-D :-D. Or ask for it for a Christmas/B-day present.

I live on my kindle practically as I spend so much time on the stupid RER/Metro. Now I can't wait for my next long journey!!

As for legally kindle ebook lending I would probs only do it with family members for the reasons listed above. Though I'm not sure if you could download the file to your computer and transfer it to someone elses kindle via USB? Haven't tried it yet. So far none of my immediate family have caught up with the rest of the world, but I'm pretty sure my parents will cave for their next hiking trip. Yay for future easy present buying!

[RacetrackReject]

You can lend books on Kindle if the publisher allows lending. It will say if you lend the book when you go check your downloads on Amazon. Out of all the books I have on Kindle, and there are many, not a one is lendable..sigh.

[Adamantane]

There restrictions are not at all the way it was described by amazon.com after I got my kindle 16 months ago and they enabled sharing. At that point you could loan any book to anybody for 2 weeks without any qualifications at all.

[JenLS]

I have Calibre. I can download to my computer and then email the book to my sister. Not all Amazon books can be lent. I didn't realize that while I was on my book buying spree. Now I have a bunch that I can't loan to friends.