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Industry · E-books and publishing

Books everyone can read, on screen too

An e-book only helps if people can find it, buy it and read it. We test your shop, your reading samples and your web reader, so readers with a screen reader or large text do not give up at the checkout or on page one.

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What the EAA asks of e-books

E-books and dedicated software are named in the European Accessibility Act (Article 2(2)(e)). That means a service providing digital files that convey an electronic version of a book, and the software, including apps, dedicated to accessing, navigating, reading and using those files (Article 3(41)).

Annex I, Section IV adds requirements for e-books: synchronised text and audio where both exist, files that do not get in the way of assistive technology, access to content, navigation and layout including dynamic layouts, structure and flexible presentation, alternative renditions, accessibility features discoverable through metadata, and digital rights management that does not block those features. Checked on 10 November 2026.

If you sell e-books in your own shop, the e-commerce rules apply to the buying journey as well. Micro-enterprises that provide services are exempt.

Two questions, one answer

Does the EAA apply to you?

Your industry is already selected. Answer two questions and the EAA check shows an assessment, the reasons and next steps. You can change every answer there.

Who are your customers?
How big is your company?

A first orientation, not legal advice. Nothing is stored.

Where readers drop out between shop and page one

Search and product page

Accessibility information is missing or hidden in the file format. A reader who relies on text-to-speech needs to know before buying whether the book works with it.

Reading samples

Samples as image-only PDFs or in a viewer without keyboard support. The sample is the first contact with the book, and often the first drop-out.

Web reader

Pages turn only by swiping or clicking the margin, the table of contents has no structure, bookmarks and notes need a mouse.

Adjusting the display

Font size, line spacing and contrast cannot be changed, or the text does not reflow when enlarged.

Copy protection

Protection measures that lock out screen readers or read-aloud. The Directive rules exactly that out.

Account and library

Purchased titles are hard to find, and downloads carry no meaningful names.

The criteria that decide whether people can read

  • 1.3.1Info and Relationships

    Chapters, headings, lists and tables in the web reader must be marked up as such, so readers can jump and keep their bearings.

  • 1.4.4Resize Text

    Text must scale to 200 percent without losing content or functions.

  • 1.4.12Text Spacing

    More line, word and letter spacing must not clip or cover anything.

  • 2.1.1Keyboard

    Turning pages, the table of contents, bookmarks and search in the reader must all work with a keyboard.

  • 1.1.1Non-text Content

    Covers, figures and charts in samples and the reader need fitting text alternatives.

  • 4.1.2Name, Role, Value

    Custom reader controls such as font choice, page slider or bookmark buttons need a name, role and state.

What we test, and what we do not

  1. Shop and checkout

    Search, product page, cart, checkout, account and library, against WCAG 2.2 AA.

  2. Web reader and samples

    Everything that runs in a browser is tested by a person with keyboard, magnification and screen reader.

  3. Accessibility information

    We check that a title’s accessibility information shows on the product page in plain words and is readable by screen readers.

  4. Outside the standard scope

    We do not test the EPUB files themselves or native reading apps. For EPUB files there are dedicated checkers such as Ace by DAISY.

The legal position for publishers and retailers

The rules apply to e-book services provided to consumers after 28 June 2025. Micro-enterprises that provide services are exempt: fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than EUR 2 million. E-readers are products with their own duties, and the exemption does not apply to them.

The exclusions in Article 2(4) cover pre-recorded time-based media and office file formats published before 28 June 2025, online maps, third-party content and archives that are no longer updated; titles published before that date are not listed. An operator who relies on a fundamental alteration or a disproportionate burden has to assess and document that itself (Article 14). How to handle your backlist is a legal question for your lawyer. More in our law overview.

Frequently asked questions

We only deliver EPUB files to retailers. What would you test?

We do not test the files themselves. If you run your own shop, an online reading sample or a web reader, we test those. For the files, tools such as Ace by DAISY and the EPUB Accessibility specification are the right starting point.

Do we have to convert our backlist?

The Directive has no specific exclusion for older e-books. Whether and how quickly you adapt older titles is a legal question to settle with your lawyer. On the technical side, we show you where your shop and reader stand today.

Is an accessible EPUB enough if the shop is not?

No. If readers cannot find or pay for the book, they never get to read it. That is why we test the whole journey, not single pages.

Does this cover audiobooks?

The Directive speaks of an electronic version of a book. Whether an audiobook falls under that is not answered expressly in the text. Your audiobook shop can still be covered as an e-commerce service. Have your case checked.

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