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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No ebook for Stephen King's new novel, 'Joyland'

In a move to bump up physical book sales, Stephen King will not release an ebook version of his new novel, "Joyland," the Wall Street Journal reports.In a move to bump up physical book sales, Stephen King will not release an ebook version of his new novel, "Joyland," the Wall Street Journal reports. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Patchett: 'Authors must work with trade'

Orange Prize-winner Ann Patchett has warned that authors who decide to shun traditional... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Solutions Gets Extension

Judge Denise Cote has granted a request by Author Solutions and Penguin to extend the deadline to respond to the class action lawsuit filed against the two to June 21. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HMRC needs to apply rules to Amazon

Keith Smith from Warwick and Kenilworth Bookshops has criticised HMRC and the government for... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EC urged to act over ebook 'ecosystems'

Booksellers from across Europe have urged European Commission representatives to act over the use... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Growth in ebook sales slows in 2012

The number of ebooks sold last year grew by 43 percent, but that's a fairly small increase compared to the triple-digit increases of past years. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Customers should have free choice over ebook buying, says EIBF

There is no convincing technological reason preventing ebook interoperability between different... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DOJ Filing Calls Apple "Ringmaster" of E-Book Pricing Rise

The gist: "Apple knew that the plan it was proposing involved a ‘dramatic business change’ for publisher defendants." Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's 2012 tax bill revealed

Amazon.co.uk paid £3.2m in UK tax last year, after making £7.7m in profit, according... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Instant Ferguson ebook from Endeavour

Endeavour Press has rushed out an ebook on the topic of which players would make up Manchester... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers round on Dangdang over free ebooks

Chinese publishing houses, long frustrated by the sale of pirated books in the country, have... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft may buy Barnes & Noble's Nook unit for $1 billion

According to internal documents obtained by the website TechCrunch, Microsoft has offered $1 billion for the digital assets of Nook Media, Barnes & Noble's digital book venture.According to internal documents obtained by the website TechCrunch, Microsoft has offered $1 billion for the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Surveying Ebook Adoption in Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia

Recent reports from Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia indicate growth in indigenous ebook development and dealmaking across the region. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble drops Nook prices, eyes Mother's Day sales boost

Barnes & Noble knows it's not winning the tablet race by any margin, but the book retailer is hoping for a big boost for Mother's Day.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Federal judge rules that used ebooks cannot be sold by consumers

Start-up company ReDigi had planned to allow users to sell used ebooks but were told by a judge that doing so would be illegal. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's new China app store could help pave way for Kindle products

Amazon.com has updated its mobile app store to include support for its Chinese customers, in a sign that the U.S. company could be preparing to sell its Kindle e-readers and tablets in the country.The update effectively launches a new version of Amazon's app store built in the Chinese language.... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Appstore launches in China, continues its world tour

Amazon let its world domination plans be known last month when it asked developers to start submitting apps to line its virtual displays in more countries. While China was notably absent from immediate expansion plans, Amazon launched its Appstore there during the weekend, opening the doors to... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Would Someone Take Advantage of America’s Most Beloved Author?

Author Harper Lee, now 87-years-old, is suing the son-in-law of her former literary agent after he "duped" her into signing over rights to her beloved classic "To Kill a Mockingbird." Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette makes ebooks available to libraries

Hachette, the last holdout among America's "big six" publishers, will make its full ebook catalog available to nonprofit public libraries and school libraries across the nation on May 8th. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin puts Phillips in to head Author Solutions

Penguin has moved Andrew Phillips over to become c.e.o. of self-publishing business Author... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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