Online ebooks represent a market where free and legal offers coexist alongside paid subscriptions and pirate platforms. The legal framework surrounding the downloading of digital books is based on copyright and the public domain, two concepts that determine what a reader can obtain without breaking the law. Understanding the differences between these sources allows for peaceful reading without the risk of penalties related to illegal downloading.
Compatibility of e-readers and ebook formats: the real selection filter
Even before choosing a platform, the file format and the e-reader used condition the actual access to digital books. An ebook in ePub format downloaded from a public library will not open on an Amazon Kindle, which favors its own formats. In contrast, e-readers like Vivlio, inkBOOK, or Boox accept ePub and are compatible with digital lending from libraries (PNB).
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This technical constraint is rarely mentioned in lists of free sites. However, it has a direct impact: a reader equipped with a Kindle will have to turn to the Amazon catalog or manually convert their files, while a Vivlio user can borrow directly through their media library.
| Criterion | Kindle (Amazon) | Vivlio / inkBOOK / Boox | Computer / tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native format | AZW, MOBI, KFX | ePub, PDF | ePub, PDF, AZW |
| Digital lending from library (PNB) | Not compatible | Compatible | Compatible (via browser or app) |
| Public domain ebooks (Gutenberg, Gallica) | Yes (after conversion) | Yes (direct) | Yes (direct) |
| Adobe DRM | No | Yes | Yes (via Adobe Digital Editions) |
This table shows that the choice of e-reader determines the accessible platforms. Ignoring this point means signing up for services whose catalog cannot be exploited.
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Some readers also wish to access ebooks on Bookys, a platform that aggregates various content but whose legal status raises questions for titles still protected by copyright.
Public domain and free licenses: what the law really allows
An ebook belongs to the public domain when the economic rights of its author have expired. In France, this occurs 70 years after the author’s death, with possible extensions for authors who died for France. Any work in the public domain can be downloaded, copied, and redistributed freely.
Several platforms exclusively exploit this legal framework:
- The Gutenberg Project, a global pioneer, offers thousands of titles in ePub and PDF, mostly in English but with a growing French catalog.
- Free and open ebooks (ebooksgratuits.com) focuses on French-speaking literature in the public domain, with a catalog shared via noslivres.net grouping several partners (BEQ, BNR, ÉFÉLÉ).
- Gallica, the digital library of the BNF, provides access to digitized heritage documents, sometimes in ePub format, often in PDF image.
- Numilog offers a catalog of free titles in ePub and PDF formats, mixing public domain and titles provided by publishers.
At the same time, some contemporary authors distribute their works under free licenses (Creative Commons). These licenses allow free downloading without waiting for the expiration of copyright. The Atramenta platform hosts this type of text alongside works in the public domain.
The line between free and illegal
A recent book made available for free download on a third-party site, without the publisher’s agreement, remains an infringement. The free nature does not change anything in the eyes of the law: it is the authorization of the rights holder that determines legality, not the displayed price. Arcom monitors illegal download platforms and can initiate proceedings against users as well as hosts.
Digital lending from libraries: an unknown access to recent ebooks
Municipal and departmental libraries now offer the lending of digital books through the PNB system. This system allows borrowing recent ebooks, including new releases, directly from home.
The operation differs from paper lending in one fundamental aspect: libraries do not purchase the ebook; they acquire a license whose parameters vary from title to title. Loan duration, number of simultaneous loans allowed, compatible formats: each publisher sets its own conditions. Some titles can be borrowed by multiple readers at the same time, while others impose a waiting list.
To access it, one generally just needs to be registered at a participating library. Borrowing is done via an application or a web portal, and the file is protected by a DRM that limits the reading duration.
Enhanced accessibility from 2025
As of June 28, 2025, new ebooks published in the European Union must meet enhanced accessibility requirements. The files must be readable by screen readers, provide voice transcription, and adapt to dyslexic audiences. France published an accessibility guide for libraries in December 2025, confirming this regulatory direction.
Legal free ebooks or pirate platforms: verification criteria
In the face of the multitude of sites offering digital books, a few simple checks can help assess the legality of a source:
- Does the site display identifiable legal notices (publisher, host, contact)? Their absence is a warning signal.
- Are the titles offered exclusively in the public domain or under free license? A catalog filled with recent bestsellers available for free download indicates an illicit source.
- Does the site redirect to external file hosts with intrusive ads? This business model generally relies on infringement.
A legal site clearly identifies the legal status of each work and does not offer protected titles without editorial agreement. Gallica, the Gutenberg Project, or library portals meet these criteria. Platforms whose catalog seems too complete to be honest deserve verification before any download.
Library lending remains the only legal and free way to read new digital releases. For works in the public domain, specialized platforms offer direct and unrestricted access. Checking the legal status of a title takes just a few seconds and avoids complications that are much longer to resolve.