Amazon ebook pricing battle intensifies after 'Authors United' ad

Compares Hachette dispute to past paperback fears, but partially quoting George Orwell is a risky moveAmazon has hit back following an open letter from more than 900 authors criticising its licensing dispute with publisher Hachette, which was published as an ad in the New York Times.However, the latest blog post from the Amazon Books Team is raising eyebrows within the publishing industry due to its use of a partial quote from George Orwell in support of its cause.We have made Amazon many millions of dollars and over the years have contributed so much, free of charge, to the company by way of cooperation, joint promotions, reviews and blogs.This is no way to treat a business partner. Nor is it the right way to treat your friends. Without taking sides on the contractual dispute between Hachette and Amazon, we encourage Amazon in the strongest possible terms to stop harming the livelihood of the authors on whom it has built its business.With it being so inexpensive and with so many more people able to afford to buy and read books, you would think the literary establishment of the day would have celebrated the invention of the paperback, yes? Nope. Instead, they dug in and circled the wagons.They believed low cost paperbacks would destroy literary culture and harm the industry (not to mention their own bank accounts). Many bookstores refused to stock them, and the early paperback publishers had to use unconventional methods of distribution places like newsstands and... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #status quo #penguin books #market share #big businesses #reading public

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Amazon ebook pricing battle intensifies after 'Authors United' ad'


German-language Authors Join in Battle Against Amazon

Austrian, Swiss and German authors have sent an open letter of protest to Amazon, protesting the use of 'authors and their books as a bargaining chip to exact deeper discounts.' Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #german authors #open letter


Amazon misrepresents Orwell and takes on Disney, as the pricing war intensifies (+video)

In a statement about its dispute with publisher Hachette, Amazon cited '1984' author George Orwell – while failing to understand the author's words, critics charged. Meanwhile, Amazon appears to be entering into a dispute with Disney. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher hachette #amazon cited #critics charged #amazon appears


Amazon misrepresents Orwell and takes on Disney, as the pricing war intensifies

In a statement about its dispute with publisher Hachette, Amazon cited '1984' author George Orwell – while failing to understand the author's words, critics charged. Meanwhile, Amazon appears to be entering into a dispute with Disney. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher hachette #amazon cited #critics charged #amazon appears


Amazon wants you to ask Hachette's CEO for lower ebook prices

Amazon's fight with Hachette over ebook pricing just got extra-personal. Hot on the heels of writers attacking Jeff Bezos' "retaliation," the Amazon Books Team has posted a Readers United site that calls on you to email Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook pricing


Authors take out full-page NYT ad to criticize Amazon

There's no sign that Amazon and Hachette are close to burying their ebook hatchet, which has prompted the authors caught in the middle to speak up. One of those affected, Douglas Preston, penned an open letter to Jeff Bezos, requesting that he... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #douglas preston #open letter #jeff bezos


Bestselling authors take out full-page New York Times ad against Amazon

Stephen King and Donna Tartt among those petitioning Amazon to 'stop harming the livelihood of the authors'Readers of the New York Times will have to steel themselves this weekend, as the unseemly brawl between Hachette and Amazon erupts on to the tranquil pages of the Grey Lady. Perhaps the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest salvo #james patterson #years ahead


Hachette ebook sales fall in wake of dispute with Amazon over pricing

Hachette finance chief plays down effect of Amazon tactics as parent Lagardère reports 1% overall dip in salesThe Hachette publishing group has reported a fall in ebook sales as it continues its battle with Amazon over pricing.The publisher of Ian Rankin and Booker prize nominee Joshua Ferris... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook sales #ian rankin #online retailer #bestselling authors


Amazon Explains Why It Thinks $9.99 is the Right Price for Ebooks

On the Kindle forum, Amazon said it wants to price most eBooks at $9.99, claiming lower prices will sell more books and return more money to authors. Many disagree. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon to Hachette: Lower ebook prices and we won't ask for more of the revenues

Amazon recently extended a public challenge to Hachette, saying that if the publisher will lower ebook prices to $9.99, the company won't ask for a larger share of the revenues. This is the first time Amazon has publicly shared details of the dispute between the two companies. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #time amazon


Amazon: 'Hachette paying authors too little on ebooks'

Hachette Book Group is “sharing too small a portion” of the revenue from ebooks with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


'Authors United' promises long-term Amazon strategy

Authors United, the group of writers who signed a letter calling on Amazon to resolve its dispute... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors united #letter calling


Amazon offers 100 percent of ebook profits to Hachette authors as dispute rages on

Amazon recently offered Hachette writers 100 percent of ebook profits until the dispute between the publisher and the bookselling giant is resolved. The move prompted criticism from Hachette.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette authors #bookselling giant


Amazon appeals directly to authors in ongoing ebook dispute

Despite sounding like a rogue militant organization from G.I. Joe, Hatchette is actually a book publishing group. Tame as that may sound, Hatchette is currently engaged in a high-stakes game of Chicken with a juggernaut in the book sales world:... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon offers Hachette authors 100% ebook royalties

The war of words between Amazon and Hachette US escalated overnight, after Amazon offered authors... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon and Hachette take ebooks battle into public domain

The stand-off between the internet retail giant and the publishing corporation has drawn both sides into open contention over commercial termsThe extraordinary stand-off between Amazon and Hachette saw battle lines further entrenched on Tuesday as both parties took to the public arena to insult... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public domain #battle lines


Amazon war with Hachette over ebook profit margins intensifies

Dispute has also dragged in authors including JK Rowling and James PattersonIt is another mystery for inspector Rebus to solve. Why is Amazon UK selling Saints of the Shadow Bible, the latest instalment of Ian Rankin's best-selling series about the Edinburgh sleuth, for half the price being... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ian rankin #cover price #latest instalment


Amazon sends money to Kindle readers affected by ebook price-fixing scandal

If you bought a lot of bestsellers, you could see a hefty credit on your Amazon account on Tuesday. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon account


Ka-ching! Amazon explains benefits from ebook price-fixing settlement

The direct results of the ebook price fixing scandal between Apple and the five major U.S. book publishers are one-step closer to turning into real money for millions of Amazon customers. The online retailer recently began sending out e-mail notifications to Kindle ebook buyers telling... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishers #court approves #attorneys general


'Niche authors hit' by Amazon's ebook royalty rates

The Telegraph has claimed niche authors are being unfairly hit by Amazon’s self-publishing... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Ether for Authors: Ebook Prices at Rock Bottom

Porter Anderson's weekly curation of the best Web postings for authors takes in the UK's growing consternation over 20p ebooks, Amazon's untrustworthy reviews and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook prices #porter anderson #20p ebooks