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Indie bookstore backer Bookshop.org<\/a> launched an e-book platform<\/a> on Tuesday, making it easier for readers to buy e-books without padding Jeff Bezos\u2019 pockets. For years, Amazon\u2019s chokehold and sway in the publishing industry have been so strong that authors and booksellers have accused the company<\/a> of operating a monopoly.<\/p>\n Amazon is dominant in the sale of e-books because of its Kindle, which is one of the leading e-readers on the market. Conscious consumers can turn to companies like Kobo<\/a> for their hardware, but even so, there often aren\u2019t options to buy e-books directly from publishers and independent booksellers, which means that readers usually resort to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other big box retailers.<\/p>\n Bookshop.org and Libro.fm have emerged as alternatives to Amazon, sharing a cut of sales with independent bookstores around America. But for e-book readers, it\u2019s been challenging to buy new titles without going through Amazon\u2019s ecosystem. Bookshop.org\u2019s expansion into e-books gives consumers a long-awaited option to buy these digital books while also supporting small businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we launched Bookshop.org, the vision was to support local bookstores in their battle against Amazon and other online retailers,\u201d Andy Hunter, founder and CEO of Bookshop.org, said in an announcement of the service\u2019s new capabilities. \u201cThis launch represents our commitment to keeping bookstores afloat.\u201d<\/p>\n As it stands, Bookshop.org\u2019s e-books are only available in the web browser, or on the Bookshop.org apps, which are available for Android and iOS. <\/p>\n To maximize its impact in the market, however, Bookshop.org will need to offer ways to download its e-books onto e-readers like the Kindle.<\/p>\n \u201cBookshop selling e-books is not a cure-all. Amazon has monopolized the e-book space for way too long for it to be,\u201d wrote<\/a> book critic Maris Kreizman on Bluesky. \u201cBut it\u2019s an important first step and that\u2019s worth celebrating.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n