Do e-books have expiration dates?

In general, e-books themselves do not have expiration dates in the same way that physical items might. Once you purchase or download an e-book, it typically remains accessible to you indefinitely, as long as you have it stored on your device or within your digital library.

However, there are a few scenarios where e-books may seem to have expiration dates:

1. **Library Loans**: If you borrow an e-book from a digital library, the borrowing period is typically limited, similar to borrowing a physical book. Once the loan period expires, the e-book is automatically returned to the library's collection and is no longer accessible on your device unless you renew the loan or borrow it again.

2. **Subscription Services**: Some e-book subscription services, such as Kindle Unlimited or Scribd, offer access to a library of e-books for a monthly subscription fee. In this case, your access to the e-books is tied to your subscription status. If you cancel your subscription, you may lose access to the e-books provided by the service.

3. **Digital Rights Management (DRM)**: E-books that are protected by DRM may have restrictions on how they can be accessed or shared. For example, DRM-protected e-books purchased from certain retailers may require authorization from the retailer's servers to access the content. If the retailer ceases operations or discontinues support for the DRM system, it could potentially affect your ability to access the e-books in the future.

4. **Licensing Agreements**: In some cases, e-books may be subject to licensing agreements that dictate how they can be used or accessed. For example, academic e-books purchased for institutional use may have restrictions on the number of simultaneous users or the duration of access.

Overall, while e-books themselves do not typically expire, there are external factors such as library loans, subscription services, DRM, and licensing agreements that may impact your ability to access them over time. It's important to be aware of these factors when acquiring and managing e-books in your digital library.