Readium LCP
What is Readium LCP?
Readium LCP is an open, interoperable framework for protecting and distributing EPUB, PDF and audiobook content — built so that publishers, libraries and reading apps can work together instead of being locked into a single vendor.
Readium LCP is an ISO International Standard (ISO/IEC 23078-2:2024), already deployed by ebook distributors in 100+ countries.
Why now
The EU Accessibility Act is now enforced. Since June 2025, any DRM that prevents screen readers from accessing content can no longer be legally marketed in Europe. LCP was built accessible from the start — adopting it is a compliance decision, not just a technical preference.
Adobe’s DRM no longer exists. The platform behind Adobe’s ebook DRM was sold to Wipro and rebranded as ByteBooks. Since June 1st, old Adobe IDs no longer work, and it remains unclear whether the new platform will meet EAA accessibility requirements. Organisations still relying on it are working against a clock they don’t control.
LCP is the open, interoperable alternative — already running at scale.
LCP today
- 100+ countries where LCP-protected content is available
- 12M+ ebooks in 15 languages
- 120 EDRLab member organisations
- 50 LCP servers in operation worldwide
- 204 LCP-compliant mobile apps (59 organisations)
- 51 e-ink devices from 5 manufacturers
Why adopt Readium LCP?
For publishers and distributors
No per-transaction cost. LCP runs on an annual certification fee — not a cut on every sale or loan.
A non-profit, cost-recovery model. Fees go back into the open-source tools the industry relies on: Readium toolkits, Thorium Reader, EPUB standards at W3C.
Built for library lending. LCP supports loan extension and early return natively.
Your data stays yours. The architecture is decentralised: your encryption tools and license server run under your control. No third party accesses your users’ reading activity.
For reading app and device developers
Interoperable by design. Any technical organisation can build an LCP-compliant reading app. The specification is open; the certification process is transparent.
Open-source toolkits. Integrate via the Readium Mobile SDKs (Swift, Kotlin, Node.js) and the open-source LCP Server. Prototype before signing anything.
Vendor-neutral standard. Governed by EDRLab — a non-profit representing publishers, libraries and technology providers. No single company controls the roadmap.
For libraries and institutions
EAA-compliant from day one. LCP has never blocked screen readers or assistive technology — compliant by design, not by patch.
Choice and flexibility. Patrons can use the devices they already own. Your institution can switch providers without locking anyone out of their loans.
What our partners say
“EDRLab was highly responsive and collaborative during integration, resolving novel issues quickly and providing strong pre-release customer support. Thorium Reader’s accessibility focus has been well received by our customers facing global accessibility requirements; interoperability is also highly valued.”
— EBSCO (100,000+ libraries worldwide)
“In our experience, DRM inevitably leads to support requests, but to date we haven’t received a single one related to LCP-protected books, which I consider a great success.”
— Johannes Koch, CTO, Pubfront (Denmark)
How to get started
The path to LCP is structured — and it begins without any commitment.
1. Explore for free. Your technical team can build a working prototype using the open-source LCP test environment. No membership, no contract, no fee.
2. Submit for validation. When the prototype is ready, EDRLab runs a first compliance check to confirm your implementation meets the LCP specification.
3. Join EDRLab and sign the LCP Agreement. You become an EDRLab member and receive the production libraries, along with dedicated technical support throughout the process.
4. Certify and launch. A final compliance test confirms your production solution. Once passed, you receive a certification letter — and your application joins the global LCP ecosystem.
Join the ecosystem
Adopting Readium LCP means joining EDRLab as a member — with access to the Members Circle, a voice in the standards EDRLab develops (EPUB, Web Publications, OPDS), and preferential terms across EDRLab’s tools.
Become an LCP license provider →
Become an LCP reading system provider →
LCP Pricing — transparent, published, reviewed every two years →
Questions? Fill in the prospect form or contact Priyanka Dalotra at contact@edrlab.org.
Who helped developing LCP
The development of the LCP DRM was initially a request from the founders of the Lab, i.e. major French publishing groups.
The project, i.e. the specification, its ISO standardization, the extended specification for PDF and Audiobooks, the associated open-source software and confidential modules, would not have been possible without the financial help of the following organizations:
The Korea Copyright Commission (KCC) Korean agency is dedicated to copyright-related affairs representing the government of South Korea.
It promotes the legitimate use of works, and development of the copyright industry.
The Centre Français d’Exploitation du Droit de Copie (CFC) is the organization that collectively manages the redistribution of press and book content on behalf of authors and publishers. It also distributes the publishers’ share of rights for digital private copying of the press.
In accordance with the intellectual property code, it devotes part of the sums it collects to financing cultural actions aimed at supporting the creation and distribution of the press and books.
Other Readium projects
Readium-2
The major evolution of the Readium SDK codebase, the objectives being better performances and stability, clarity of source code and documentation.
Readium SDK & JS
The reference EPUB 3 open-source reading engine for Web, desktop and mobile apps, on active maintenance by the Readium community.
contact@edrlab.org
+33 1 83 64 41 34
