Amazon modifies Kindle text-speech

SEATTLE, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Kindle electronic-book reader will be changed to allow authors to decide if they want the text-to-speech function enabled for their works, its maker says.

Even though Amazon.com Inc., of Seattle, which makes the Kindle, says the device's text-to-speech feature is perfectly legal, it will move to eliminate it for authors and publishers who believe the feature constitutes a copyright infringement, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

"We strongly believe many rights-holders will be more comfortable with the text to-speech feature if they are in the driver's seat," Amazon.com said in statement.

The changes came as Amazon.com began shipping its new Kindle 2.

Some publishers and authors say the feature that enables Kindles to read books aloud in a computerized voice is an "audio right," similar to the copyright protections they enjoy for "audio books," where actors are recorded reading works aloud, the Journal said.