When technology is useful to consumers and risky to the content industries: the case of e-books

Abstract

The current work analyses consumers’ attitudes towards eBooks and eReaders, as well as the use behavior in order to know the real risks that threaten the book industry. Findings show that the price of the devices and the eBooks, and the lack of eBooks variety are the main inhibitors to buy these devices. Moreover, users’ preferences about eBooks’ prices and the tendency to pirate depict an uncertain future to this industry.