Bookshop.org, an online platform dedicated to supporting independent bookshops, has announced that its long-awaited integration with Kobo e-readers is now firmly back on track, with a rollout anticipated later this year. This news follows a period of uncertainty, which saw the company briefly remove specific timeline references for the partnership from its website, sparking concerns among users.
The collaboration aims to provide Kobo users with a direct way to purchase e-books through Bookshop.org, ensuring that a portion of each sale benefits local independent booksellers. Currently, Bookshop.org offers e-books via its mobile application for iOS and Android devices, but a dedicated e-reader integration has been a highly requested feature, particularly for those who prefer the specialised reading experience of devices like Kobo.
Andy Hunter, founder and CEO of Bookshop.org, confirmed that progress has been made after what he described as a complex negotiation process. "The Kobo integration is something both Kobo and Bookshop.org want to make happen," Hunter stated, explaining that the holdup was due to both business and engineering complexities. A key challenge involved ensuring the integration respected publisher requirements for digital rights management (DRM), which necessitated significant time to finalise business terms and allocate engineering resources.
Hunter added that the company's engineers had recently been focused on enhancing its mobile app, which launched approximately 15 months ago. However, attention has now shifted back to the Kobo support project. While a precise launch date cannot yet be guaranteed, Hunter expressed confidence that the collaboration would materialise, stating, "We have recently settled on business terms with Kobo, and we are confident the collaboration is going to happen, but can’t promise a specific launch date until the engineering work is further along."
This development will be welcome news for many Kobo owners who wish to support independent bookshops but find current methods for purchasing e-books for their devices through these channels to be limited or outdated. While Kobo users can access DRM-free books and a selection of library titles via Overdrive, a direct integration with Bookshop.org would offer a streamlined and impactful way to channel purchases towards local businesses.