Amazon modifies text-to-speech feature on Kindle

SEATTLE Amazon announced that it is modifying its Kindle so that rightsholders can decide on a title by title basis whether they want text-to-speech enabled or disabled for any particular title.

"We have already begun to work on the technical changes required to give authors and publishers that choice. With this new level of control, publishers and authors will be able to decide for themselves whether it is in their commercial interests to leave text-to-speech enabled. We believe many will decide that it is," Amazon said in a statement.

Amazon's decision was in response to criticism that the text-to-speech feature on its Kindle enabled it to bypass royalty payments.

Though Amazon made the choice to allow rightsholders to decide whether they wanted the text-to-speech function enabled, the company said it still stands behind the legality of the feature and said it believes it is welcomed by customers.