Positives
- Access to millions of e-books and audiobooks, catering to diverse reading preferences.
- High-quality e-readers with features like adjustable lighting and long battery life.
- Kobo e-books can be read on multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, using the Kobo app.
Potential Concerns
- Limits on sharing, printing, and device compatibility of purchased e-books.
- Potential technical issues or malfunctions with e-readers requiring warranty claims or repairs.
- Occasional reports of slow or insufficient customer support, especially for resolving technical issues or processing returns.
What is Kobo?
Kobo is a Canadian company specialising in e-books and e-readers. Founded in 2009, it offers a wide selection of digital books, audiobooks, and e-reading devices. Rakuten, a Japanese e-commerce and online retail company, acquired Kobo in 2012, integrating it into its global portfolio of digital services and expanding Kobo’s reach in the e-reading market. Kobo’s platform provides access to millions of titles and supports various reading formats.
Is Kobo Safe – The Details
Regulation
Kobo complies with digital content regulations, consumer protection laws, and data protection standards, including GDPR, ensuring the security, privacy, and rights of its customers are upheld.
Protection and Insurances
Kobo offers its customers the following protections and insurances:
Data Protection: Compliance with GDPR and other data privacy laws to safeguard personal information.
Secure Transactions: Advanced encryption and secure payment systems to protect financial data.
Purchase Protection: Policies for refunds and returns on e-books and e-readers, ensuring customer satisfaction.
Device Warranty: Warranty coverage on e-readers for manufacturing defects and malfunctions.
Risks
Risks with Kobo include data breaches, DRM limitations1 on purchased e-books, potential device malfunctions, and limited customer service support.
Security and Personal Data
Kobo ensures security and personal data protection through GDPR compliance, advanced encryption, secure payment systems, and robust privacy policies, safeguarding customer information and ensuring secure transactions on their platform.
Resources:
There is a subreddit dedicated to Kobo where Kobo users share their experiences with the devices and the store.
TechRadar
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/kobo-plus
Summary – Is Kobo legit?
Kobo is a legitimate and reputable company. Founded in 2009 and owned by Rakuten, Kobo offers a wide selection of e-books, audiobooks, and e-readers. It is known for its reliable service, compliance with data protection laws, and secure transactions, making it a trusted choice for digital reading.
- DRM limitations with Kobo include restricted sharing, device compatibility issues, inability to print e-books, and potential loss of access. ↩︎