Watersones, a UK bookseller and rival to Amazon, has upset a number of customers who bought the Kindle Paperwhite from its stores after the company decided to issue a firmware update replacing Amazon’s screensaver with a Waterstones advertisement. While some Kindle devices are ad-supported and discounted, customers say the firmware update was forced even onto full-priced devices with no ads. In an email statement provided to customers who complained about the unwelcome addition, Waterstones offered no sympathy, but spin; it writes that “it is our view that this screensaver does not constitute advertising and differs substantially to the advertising-supported Kindles available to the US market.” We’re not sure in which universe a non-removable, mandatory splash screen with a company logo is not an advertisement, but Waterstones is at least gracious enough to observe that “the change was made without consultation” — as a result, it will let customers who bought a Kindle Paperwhite from its stores return it for a full refund.
Waterstones forces a self-promoting, non-removable screensaver ad onto Kindles
is executive editor who has obsessed over headlines and internet speeds since 2011. He previously worked as an advocate for the National Park System.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
