Bookshop.org Settles Kobo Deal, But DRM and Publisher Sign-Offs Keep Launch Date Open

Bookshop.org has settled business terms with Kobo for e-reader support, CEO Andy Hunter confirmed to TechCrunch on July 6, 2026, after delays that stretched from 2025 through early 2026. Engineering work remains to satisfy publisher DRM requirements and secure per-publisher licensing. Hunter declined to commit to a specific launch date. The delivery method—direct device push, sideload, or Kobo cloud handoff—remains undecided, each carrying different UX implications.