High School Student Sues Amazon

If you’re a freelancer writer, chances are that you’re also an avid reader. I know I am. While I’ve resisted purchasing a Kindle, I know a lot of you guys and gals probably are enjoying this new technology. Well, most of the time. Earlier this month, Amazon deleted the books Animal Farm and 1984 (how ironic) from Kindles around the world after finding that the uploaded version violated copyright laws. Everyone got their money back, but some people are still pissed.

One such person is 17-year-old Justin D. Gawronski, a student at Shelby Township, Michigan’s Eisenhower High School. Along with other readers, Gawronski filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status, saying that Amazon should have given advanced notice and restored Kindles with an authorized version of the book.

Says lawyer Jay Edelson of Chicago,

“Amazon.com had no more right to hack into people’s Kindles than its customers have the right to hack into Amazon’s bank account to recover a mistaken overpayment. Technology companies increasingly feel that because they have the ability to access people’s personal property, they have the right to do so. That is 100 percent contrary to the laws of this country.”

Gawronski says that he purchased 1984 for an AP high school class that requires students to write reflections every 100 pages. He needs to have the assignments complete when school starts in the fall. He’ll also have to take a test on the text. He says that his notes are no long relevant because they referenced certain parts of the book on Kindle.

Amazon hasn’t commented on the case, but a spokesperson has said that the Seattle company is aware of the filing.

Do you think Gawronski and others have a case? Should your Kindle be locked to tampering by Amazon after you purchase a book?

Picture via AGeekMom.