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

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Amazon lights a Matchbook

Playing with fire is generally considered bad practice -- I know, as a parent I recommend my kids avoid it. Amazon, however has a whole new Matchbook that it can not wait to set alight. In this case, thankfully, there are no pyrotechnics involved -- just some good literature. Today the online... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Major Publishers Untroubled by Ad Blocking

According to ad-blocking data provider PageFair, more users are now making use of browser plugins such as Adblock Plus to remove ads from the sites they visit. A recent report it published claimed the trend “is threatening the business mode ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kindle MatchBook: Re–Purchase your Library from Amazon for $2.99 or less

In October Amazon launches Kindle MatchBook, an arrangement that lets you purchase the Kindle edition of books you've already bought from them in print for $2.99 or less. The agreement currently covers about 10,000 books from a variety of publishers, and the prices are valid for any book... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's New Offer: Discounted Kindle Versions of Print Books You've Already Bought

Amazon said on Tuesday that it will unveil a program that will let Amazon customers purchase the digital versions of print books they've already bought -- or will buy -- from Amazon, for $2.99 or less. The initiative, called Kindle MatchBook, will launch in October with at least 10,000... Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Who Died in Syria Wins Arab American Book Award

The late New York Times Reporter Anthony Shadid, who died in Syria last year, is among the winners of the 2013 Arab American Book Awards. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Is the Dust-Up Over Kobo’s Devices Fair?

In Publishing Perspectives' Ether for Authors, Porter Anderson looks at controversy over Kobo's new push, at ebook pricing, Frankfurt Academy's CONTEC, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon US offers ebook/print bundling

Amazon has unveiled a new US initiative to bundle print and ebooks, called Kindle MatchBook.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite officially announced, ships September 30th

In case you needed official confirmation, Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite is indeed real and on the way. While we still don't have much in the way of specifics, according to the public listing, we do know that the refreshed Paperwhite should arrive with a 25-percent faster processor, improved... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon launches Mexico Kindle store

Amazon has launched the Kindle store in Mexico with over 70,000 Spanish language ebooks. The e-... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bill McGowan Works to Make Authors Pitch-Perfect

In the early 2000s, while working as a producer at ABC’s 20/20, Bill McGowan put together a branding video for a dot-com entrepreneur. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple ebooks judge to limit antitrust remedies

The federal judge who last month found Apple Inc. liable for fixing ebook prices said she plans to limit the remedies sought by the U.S. to ensure they "rest as lightly as possible" on the way the company does business.U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan Tuesday said she intends to... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guide to the Frankfurt Book Fair

Many authors wonder if attending the Frankfurt Book Fair is a worthwhile expense. Our downloadable guide explains the steps you need to take to know if it's right for you. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Apple ebooks case, judge inclined to appoint antitrust monitor

Apple may escape some of the penalties sought by the government in the ebook price-fixing case.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Says DOJ's E-Book Remedies Are Biased in Amazon's Favor

"Plaintiffs are seeking a remedy that would give Amazon significant competitive advantage over Apple -- an advantage it is neither entitled to nor deserves." Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ghost in the Machine: Does Print+Ebook Bundling Have a Future?

Several publishers are finding success with print+ebook bundling, yet the industry remains reticent to embrace what seems an obvious direction for the industry. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DOJ offers to cut injunction time in Apple ebook case, stays firm on key points

The US Justice Department was insistent that its proposed injunction against Apple for alleged ebook price fixing was the proper remedy earlier this month, but it's now willing to budge on that somewhat. As Reuters reports, the DOJ has offered to cut the length of the injunction from ten to five... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Browsers block ads, threaten free sites, researchers say

Nearly one in four browsers are armed with an ad-blocking tool, reducing revenue at free-content websites, an Irish company said last week. The popularity of ad blocking—driven by users' frustrations with intrusive, distracting or just-plain-ugly-and-noisy ads—threatens the free-for-all model... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Justice Department scolds Apple while seeking lighter ebook penalties

Even as federal antitrust lawyers proposed a slight reduction in their proposed penalties in the Apple ebook case, they stepped up their criticism of the company for continuing to insist it did nothing wrong.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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VIDEO: How to make money from ebooks

With many more authors appealing direct to the public by releasing their novels themselves over the internet, are any of them able to make money? Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Condé Nast launches Amazon subscription service

Condé Nast and Amazon have struck a deal in which the online giant will begin managing print and digital subscriptions for Condé titles, the companies said on Tuesday.The program, called All Access, is meant to simplify the subscription process by sending potential subscribers from the... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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