eBooks

On August 18, 2020, we launched our own eBookshop with most of our titles from 2007 onwards available as EPUBs. We are currently in the process of digitising our older titles, which will be released periodically (watch our social media for updates!).

Our eBookshop hosts two types of ebooks: our brand new ebooks as EPUBs, and our e-Essays as PDFs. This reflects both the industry standard of using EPUB files for full-length ebooks, as well as our readers’ preference for PDF files for short essays.

What’s more, all Zubaan’s own ebooks are completely DRM-Free.

What does DRM-free mean?

DRM is short for digital rights management. It is a technology applied to ebooks and other digital media to manage their distribution and use, and works by restricting the kind of access users have to digital content. DRM-enabled ebooks have restrictions in the way they can be copied, shared, printed or read aloud.

The issue of applying DRM to digital content is a controversial one for copyright holders and readers alike. Many publishers and online retailers believe that DRM helps fight copyright infringement and have therefore made it an intrinsic part of their e-distribution systems. Those who oppose DRM believe that the only people it inconveniences are legitimate customers by hampering their reading experience. It is an irritant that takes the choice away from readers of reading their book in the format and device that they prefer. This is ironic, considering that DRM restricts all the new possibilities that made the ebook a desirable format to begin with.

Copyright infringement is a serious problem for the publishing industry and Zubaan does not in any way condone it. However, we are convinced that DRM is not a solution to this problem because it encourages publishers to be suspicious of their own customers rather than have faith in the ability of their readers to understand the harmful effect that piracy has on authors’ and publishers’ livelihoods. Moreover, it has been proven time and time again that DRM is not an infallible technology and DRM-enabled content is as likely to be pirated as content that is DRM-free.

Only titles on our Zubaan-Penguin Joint List, which are originated, developed and edited by Zubaan while being produced, marketed and sold by Penguin Random House (India), have DRM restrictions. You will find these where you find other DRM-protected books: Amazon, Flipkart, and Google Books.

A Plea

All Zubaan ebooks other than the joint list titles are completely DRM-free, so that you can read them on any of your devices and download them multiple times. To be fair to our authors and to enable us to continue publishing and disseminating their work, we appeal to you to buy copies of these ebooks rather than share or give them away free. Thank you for your support and cooperation. And happy reading!

Where to get them

All our own titles are RIGHT HERE! By purchasing directly from us, you support us in our goals. Zubaan’s ebooks are available on Amazon, Kobo, Flipkart, Barnes & Nobles and other ebook stores around the world, but as with all distribution systems, these platforms severely restrict income to the originators of the titles. Some of our academic books have also been unbundled into separate chapters, thanks to our E-Essays Project. If you’re looking for ebook versions of our co-published titles launched during the pandemic, please find them on Amazon, Kindle, or Google Books.

Please note that all e-essays will be in PDF format, while all full-length ebooks will be in EPUB format. Once the payment is complete, you will be able to download the files onto your device.