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 ]
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Amazon Kindle 3.5 for iOS adds X-ray for extra-detailed searches

Amazon has made a big selling point of X-ray for Kindle books -- but, not surprisingly, for its own platforms first. iOS readers can reclaim some equal footing today now that a Kindle 3.5 update is bringing X-ray to their devices. The addition lets iPad and iPhone bookworms see a map of where... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Booking the Future

Porter Anderson reports from the FutureBook conference in London, where agents are making serious moves. Also: Irelands ebooks, YA inspiration and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Foyles and The Bookseller Unite to Crowdsource a ‘21st Century’ Bookstore

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing to Open European Division

Amazon's Jeff Belle announced in a letter to literary agents that Amazon Publishing will begin building a European publishing division in 2013. Hiring will begin in January. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Hunger Games' author Suzanne Collins will release a picture book

Collins' book, which will be based around her own experiences with a father in the military, will be released this fall. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon to begin European publishing push from 2013

Amazon has said that it is to open a European publishing wing headquartered in Luxembourg,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble reports Q2 2013 earnings: digital content sales up 38%, Nook unit rakes $160 million

Barnes & Noble's Nook unit didn't have its greatest quarter. The $160 million in revenue the new Microsoft-backed spin off raked in was slightly better than last year's $152 million, but still a significant drop from $220 million. In a sign of the growing ubiquity of e-readers however,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ASA rules against Amazon on Prime

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[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nosy Crow to publish book of John Lewis Snowman ad

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[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Circling the Collective

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S to launch self-publishing service with Author Solutions

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[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon forced to disclose UK sales

Amazon's UK net sales were £2.91bn in 2011, according to information the retailer has... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tablet Use, E-book Sales Grow Beyond Amazon, Nook

Tablets and other digital reading devices are expected to be big sellers this holiday season due in part to the growing number of devices available from a host of manufacturers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-11-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK booksellers lash out at Amazon: 'We pay our taxes'

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[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Can We See You?

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NYT: Penguin to extend ebook and audiobook library rentals to LA and Cleveland

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[ Engadget | 2012-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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