Your Ebooks Could Vanish Tomorrow

You think you own that ebook? Not exactly. As platforms like Radish shut down, readers are learning the hard way what digital ownership really means.

Whether it’s on Kindle, Nook, or your favorite serial reading platform, your book could disappear at any time. In most cases, the ebook can be removed from your device if the platform or publisher decides to pull it, even without your consent.

This subject came up recently because the popular serial reading app, Radish, is shutting down this year with sudden notice to the authors this past week. Readers are scrambling to find out ways to finish or keep their book library, but the sad fact is, once they are gone, they’re gone.

Apps like Radish, Dreame, Webnovel and the likes are pay-per-chapter systems. Meaning you are paying per chapter, not a complete book. What people don’t realize is you’re paying for access, not ownership. This is especially true when watching ads because those chapter reads are a free perk. A reader commented in a fan group that they thought they owned the rights to a book because of watching ads. In no way does a reader own the book rights, even if purchasing a print copy. You are only gaining access to read it. The copyright and creative control remain fully with the author and/or publisher.

The facts are, stories may change, disappear, or get pulled mid-read and you typically cannot download or archive content due to what is called DRM. (Digital Rights Management) DRM acts as a safety net for authors by helping protect their work from unauthorized copying, sharing, and piracy, ensuring they retain control over how their books are distributed and read. This means your ebook experience are often controlled by the retailer’s and how they choose to distribute the stories.

The fact is, if the app shuts down, or your account is banned, your access is gone. Often if you contact an author they will help you to figure out ways to read the rest of the book if possible. We don’t want readers to lose access any more than you do, but when I company shuts down there’s often nothing the author can do to stop it. Our only avenue is to find other options for our readers.

It’s good to remember that these platforms function more like streaming services where you’re a subscriber, not a buyer. It’s very important to read the terms of service on every reading platform to know what access you do have to the books you purchase.

If you’re unsure about a story’s future on a ebook or serial platform, reach out to the author or check their website or reach out on social media. Many are offering alternate ways to access their books.