Amazon.com and 'Big Five' publishers accused of ebook price-fixing

Class action lawsuit filed in US claims the houses have colluded with the online giant to keep prices artificially highAmazon.com and the “Big Five” publishers – Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster – have been accused of colluding to fix ebook prices, in a class action filed by the law firm that successfully sued Apple and the Big Five on the same charge 10 years ago.The lawsuit, filed in district court in New York on Thursday by Seattle firm Hagens Berman, on behalf of consumers in several US states, names the retail giant as the sole defendant but labels the publishers “co-conspirators”. It alleges Amazon and the publishers use a clause known as “Most Favored Nations” (MFN) to keep ebook prices artificially high, by agreeing to price restraints that force consumers to pay more for ebooks purchased on retail platforms that are not Amazon.com. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-15 13:04:33 UTC ]

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Taking From The Vulnerable: JPay, States Charge Incarcerated For Free Ebooks

JPay made ebooks from Project Gutenberg free to incarcerated people who have their tablets last month. But...where did the money they collected for all of those Project Gutenberg books go? Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-12-05 11:39:33 UTC ]
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MCB picks up mental health campaigner Devon's exam guide

Macmillan Children’s Books has picked up an "accessible, friendly, informative and fun" exam guide backed with expert research from mental health campaigner Natasha Devon. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-22 05:40:01 UTC ]
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S&S sees revenues slide by 9% to $217m

Worldwide revenues at Simon & Schuster have dipped by 9% to $217m for the third quarter of 2019, from $240m for the same period last year, parent firm CBS has revealed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-12 05:24:03 UTC ]
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S&S Squeezes Out a Q3 Profit Despite Sales Decline

Profits rose by $1 million at Simon & Schuster in the third quarter of 2019 over the comparable period in 2018, despite a 9% drop in sales. In last year's third quarter, Bob Woodward's 'Fear' drove strong sales for the publisher. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: November 8, 2019

Among the week's headlines: the pressure keeps mounting on Macmillan following its library e-book embargo; a backlash follows after a group of Florida elected officials politicizes the library's New York Times subcription; and an update on the Library of Congress modernization efforts. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Editorial: Why We Choose to Boycott Macmillan E-books

A librarian explains the decision to draw the line over Macmillan's decision to embargo new release e-books in public libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Smith leaves Scholastic to join Macmillan Children's Books

Scholastic’s publisher for fiction and picture books, Sam Smith, is leaving the firm to join Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-06 05:13:44 UTC ]
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As Boycotts Mount, Macmillan CEO Defends Library E-book Embargo

On Monday, just days after the publisher's controversial embargo on new release e-books in libraries went into effect, Macmillan CEO John Sargent met with a group of state librarians, fleshing out his belief that new release e-books in libraries hurt the publisher's revenues. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Canelo partners with MDL as print operation ramps up

Canelo is partnering with Macmillan Distribution (MDL) to make its growing print list available to the trade at home and internationally. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-03 18:57:07 UTC ]
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Libraries Suspend Macmillan eBook Purchases: Critical Linking, November 3, 2019

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-11-03 11:30:57 UTC ]
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Want To Borrow A Library Ebook? Why It Might Become More Challenging (& How Libraries Are Fighting Back)

Macmillan's embargo on new ebooks impacts public libraries, now scrambling to make materials available to patrons. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-11-01 10:32:08 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: November 1, 2019

Among the week's headlines: Macmillan CEO John Sargent writes to librarians; more libraries announce boycotts of Macmillan e-books as the publisher's embargo begins; and why being a whistleblower doesn't pay. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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US libraries boycott Macmillan over e-book policy change

A group of US libraries plan to boycott Macmillan over its controversial new e-book lending policy, suspending purchases of digital copies from the publisher. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-01 03:15:48 UTC ]
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Konnie Huq and 90 MPs call for end to 'reading tax' in UK

TV star joins delegation to the chancellor of the exchequer demanding an end to VAT on digital books, which traditional publications escapeChildren’s laureate Cressida Cowell and former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq have joined 90 MPs calling on the government to scrap the “reading tax” on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-10-31 15:01:27 UTC ]
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Macmillan stands by e-book lending change amid ALA outcry

Macmillan in the US has apologised to librarians for not informing them of upcoming changes to its e-book lending policy but has refused to amend it amid an outcry and 150,000 signature petition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-31 03:00:10 UTC ]
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Macmillan CEO John Sargent: 'We're not Trying to Hurt Libraries'

In an open letter to librarians published this week, Macmillan CEO John Sargent struck a somewhat conciliatory note over the issue of embargoing e-books to libraries, but his message remains unchanged: library lending of e-books pose a problem. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Val Kilmer is releasing a memoir (!!!)

Stop whatever it is you’re doing and pay attention to me because I have, just this morning, stumbled upon some joyous, and potentially game-changing, literary news: Val Kilmer is releasing a memoir. Yes, friends, according to Publishers Weekly, Simon & Schuster will publish I’m Your... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-25 16:13:04 UTC ]
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To Sell More Books, S&S Hits the Road

The S&S Selects PrePub Tour sends authors of books due out next season from Simon & Schuster’s five adult imprints across the country to schmooze with literary tastemakers around the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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All the latest production moves, hires and partnerships: October 16, 2019

Park Pictures has signed director Jaci Judelson for U.S. commercial and worldwide representation.  Judelson's Gatorade “Sisters in Sweat” spot starring Serena Williams won a Cannes Lion, two Clios and a One Show award in 2018. She has also directed spots and branded films for the likes of... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-16 14:14:29 UTC ]
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Major Public Library System Will Boycott Macmillan E-books

The King County (WA) Library System, the nation's top digital-circulating library, has said it will stop buying new release Macmillan e-books once a two-month embargo begins next month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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