Nosy

Maybe a silly question but can I download Kindle books for my American Kindle while in Europe or will there be licensing rules that prohibit new downloads while there? Are there differing rules for each country, or will all EU countries have the same book/movie/tv download rules? Do I need to put everything I might want to read on the Kindle before leaving home? Same question for Netflix & Amazon Prime streaming/downloads...I remember reading that Netflix had different rules for different countries, so should I plan on not using those services while there? I am not going to Europe to watch tv/movies but sometimes those services are helpful in entertaining children while traveling. Thanks to anyone who can save me emailing each place and asking the rules.

f1racegirl

You'll have no problem downloading Kindle books, but can have issues streaming content from Amazon, Netflix and other US sources, unless you are using a service such as Unlocator to mask your IP address.

Robert2533

If you are able to view Amazon and Netflix while traveling using Unlocator, be prepared to pay the price for data/streaming, unless you're using T-Mobile.

Christina

f1racegirl, have you done that, downloaded Kindle books in Europe? I just wondered because I know I cannot download Kindle books I buy from Amazon.fr in the US, there are some licensing issues, I gather. Which really irritates me as there are lots of French books I would like to buy the Kindle version of but cannot in the US. When I tried, I got a message from Amazon that I cannot buy them in the US.

Now maybe it's different if you just happen to be in Europe but have a regular account in the US and want a US-licensed Kindle book which you have already bought in the US have have it in the cloud, I don't know. I was in the US with an American Amazon account and wanted to buy French Kindle books through www.amazon.fr. They know where I am by my computer ISP, I guess, because even when I set up a new account only on amazon.fr with a different email address, it knew right away that I was not located in France and wouldn't let me buy French Kindle books.

welltraveledbrit

I have a US Amazon Kindle account and had no problems downloading on my Kindle in France or elsewhere in Europe, but of course this is Amazon.com not the French site Christina mentions. I was able to "take" electronic books out of my local library in California without any trouble too.

Kathie

We have purchased and downloaded Kindle books in Europe and in Asia. We always do it while we have free wi-fi, such as in our hotel room. Like WTB, we have also checked out Kindle books from our local library while overseas.

Obviously, Christina has run into a different issue in trying to purchase French books on Kindle from Amazon.

hetismij2

It is important that you use Amazon.com, not one of the European Amazon addresses, if you have a US based Kindle.

One reason I didn't go with a Kindle when I wanted an E-reader was that I was a) unable to buy one from Amazon.co.uk, only from .de, and if I did that I could not then buy books from .co.uk.

My brother wanted to buy a German book from .de for my SIL, but because their Kindles are British he couldn't.

thursdaysd

Of course, if you use a

thursdaysd

[Hit the wrong key]

Of course, if you use a VPN - which you should do if you are accessing any financial sites while traveling - you can pretend to be from wherever you like. I have mine set for servers in the US and the UK, but I could equally well set it for a server in France. (I use witopia.)

NewbE

Christina, I was going to suggest the same, that you download a simple free VPN app, use it to tell Amazon you're in France, and Bob's your uncle.

BigRuss

<<I just wondered because I know I cannot download Kindle books I buy from Amazon.fr in the US, there are some licensing issues, I gather. Which really irritates me as there are lots of French books I would like to buy the Kindle version of but cannot in the US. When I tried, I got a message from Amazon that I cannot buy them in the US. >>

This due to copyrights. Amazon cannot "import" French copyrighted books into the US.

Now, if you had a French address on your Amazon account (and at last check, you can have multiple addresses on your Amazon account), then you can download to your Kindle in "France" and read the book.

bvlenci

I have an American Amazon account, with two addresses, one in Italy and one in the US. I also have both an American and an Italian credit card. I have no problem downloading books from the American Kindle store in Italy. I'm not sure whether I would have a problem downloading Italian books from the Italian Kindle store, but I assume I would. I was tempted to try it the other day, but I was afraid they'd figure out that I actually live in Italy. I have plenty of ways to get Italian books, but it's really hard for me to get books in English here, so I don't want to take any chances.

There is now an Italian Netflix, with a good variety of foreign films in the original language, as well as Italian films. I haven't tried it yet. However, there's no way, without using a VPN, to download films from the US site when you're not in the US.

Google Play Films is the absolute worst for people outside the US. They have lots of American films, but virtually all are dubbed into Italian, with no option to view in any other language. Obviously Google has the foreign distribution rights to the films. Is it possible that there is a restricton on the language in which they can be viewed? Why would someone who's relatively fluent in English (as many Italians are) want to watch il Grande Gatsby or Il Paziente Inglese?

vmratcliff

I have a US Kindle and download all the time in Paris over wifi from the Kindle. I have been doing this for years with no problem at all. Not at all like pre-Kindle days lugging books around!

Nikki

Like Christina, I also wish I could download books from Amazon.fr to my kindle. I am not sure whether my physical location is the issue or the fact that my kindle is linked to my US Amazon account. I tend to think it is the latter. I wish I had thought of this when I visited France in November; I should have tried to download a book from Amazon.fr to my kindle. But I suspect it is the location of my account that is the issue, and not the location of myself or my device.

Nosy

Thanks for all the helpful answers.