Because the contracts between Amazon and the publishers do not permit this kind of work.
Like, this is (legally) a pretty open and shut issue. Amazon has a license from the publisher for the book that permits a certain range of activities that are contemplated by the contract: showing short excerpts for marketing for example.
IP licenses are carefully constructed, often because the rights are sold to different parties. You may for example license a book to adapt into a movie, but the contract would likely forbid you from adapting it for a TV show. The publisher may sell those two rights separately to two different parties.
And these contracts likely either specifically forbid constructing an audiobook (automated or otherwise) from the original book, or at least do not contemplate it. That is a clear source of lawsuits where Amazon is likely clearly in the wrong.
Another reply here mentions that the publishes do not "like" that Amazon went ahead and did this without consultation. That may very well be true - but more importantly (and constructively) it's likely that Amazon's behavior is specifically forbidden in the contract they voluntarily signed on to with the publisher.
Because the contracts between Amazon and the publishers do not permit this kind of work.
Like, this is (legally) a pretty open and shut issue. Amazon has a license from the publisher for the book that permits a certain range of activities that are contemplated by the contract: showing short excerpts for marketing for example.
IP licenses are carefully constructed, often because the rights are sold to different parties. You may for example license a book to adapt into a movie, but the contract would likely forbid you from adapting it for a TV show. The publisher may sell those two rights separately to two different parties.
And these contracts likely either specifically forbid constructing an audiobook (automated or otherwise) from the original book, or at least do not contemplate it. That is a clear source of lawsuits where Amazon is likely clearly in the wrong.
Another reply here mentions that the publishes do not "like" that Amazon went ahead and did this without consultation. That may very well be true - but more importantly (and constructively) it's likely that Amazon's behavior is specifically forbidden in the contract they voluntarily signed on to with the publisher.