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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E-book price-fixing trial: Will the judge come down on the side of Apple?

Judge Denise Cote seemed inclined to rule for the Department of Justice at the beginning of the trial, but her remarks as the case closed seemed to indicate a shift towards Apple's side. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fair Play? French Want to End Amazon’s Free Book Delivery

The French government announced a plan to introduce a law to stop Amazon from offering discounts and free delivery for books, citing it as "unfair" competitive practice. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Prague Fair Report: Solidarity with Slovakia, VAT Hike, Amazon is Coming

With Slovakia as guest of honor, Book World Prague offered a gauge of the local book biz, where the recent hike of VAT to 15% has stifled book sales and Amazon is expected to open soon. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European publishers united in Google challenge

In what is being called "an unprecedented show of solidarity," hundreds of Europe's leading publishers have joined forces to call on European Commission Vice President Joaquín Almunia to reject outright the draft measures offered by Google to end their abusive practices. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Why Are the Big Six So Silent?

Porter Anderson takes in the week's online debates on the belief that big publishers' power is diminished, ebook royalties, Amazon Worlds, pay for writers and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'I Am Legend' author Richard Matheson has died at 87

Author Richard Matheson, who was 87, has died at home. His family announced his passing in a protected Facebook post; the news was shared by publisher Tor/Forge.Author Richard Matheson, who was 87, has died at home. His family announced his passing in a protected Facebook post; the news was... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Divergent' author Veronica Roth will pen four original short stories

Veronica Roth will release four short stories written from the point of view of 'Divergent' hero Four. The first will be released a month before the last book in the trilogy comes out. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin urges dismissal of Author Solutions case

Penguin has urged a US court to dismiss a case brought against it and its self-publishing arm... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Building the Market for Ebooks in Colombia

E-Libros, one Colombia's few digital publishers, is using the tarjeta e-libro, or ebook cards, to reach readers accustomed to only buying print books. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple ebook trial concluding

The Apple/ DoJ ebook price fixing trial will enter its final sessions later today (20th June),... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing Has First Million Copy Bestseller: What Next?

Amazon Publishing announces that the Hangman's Daughter series is their first million seller. Is it a cause for concern? Celebration? Or merely surprise that it took this long? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sheffield authors triumph at Northern Writers' Awards

Twenty-two published and unpublished authors last night (18th) shared the £40,000 prize... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dyslexic author wins book prize

Sally Gardner, a dyslexic author once branded "unteachable" at school, wins the prestigious Carnegie Medal for her book Maggot Moon. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Vice Magazine's controversial images of female authors committing suicide are taken down

Vice Magazine's newest fashion spread depicted models dressed like Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, and others in the act of committing suicide. The photos were taken down after a public outcry. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fostering Literary Respect for Underrepresented Regions, Authors

The relaunched Commonwealth Book Prize continues to be a key conduit of exchange between underrepresented countries and regions to the UK publishing community. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Magzter to launch ebook store

Magzter, an online store front for digital magazines, is to launch an ebook store with a planned... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Price war sees Kobo mini cut to £29

A price war has been sparked on e-reading devices as the summer holiday season begins, with many... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Schools reading contest: ebooks win

Nearly half the titles read by children in a national reading competition were consumed online, according to the charity Booktrust. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oxford English Dictionary adds the words 'tweet,' 'ebook'

The OED bent the rules slightly by adding 'tweet' in under 10 years – a nod to the word's rapid and widespread rise into everyday usage. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Joshua Tallent of Ebook Architects on the State of Digital Publishing

Joshua Tallent, well-known ebook expert and founder of Ebook Architects, shares his views on current issues in digital publishing and ebook development. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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