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'


'The Baby-sitters Club' novels will get ebook releases

The first 20 books in the popular children's series by Ann M. Martin will be released in electronic format on Dec. 1. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #baby-sitters club #ebook releases #popular children #electronic format


Booksellers back Hodge on Amazon tax avoidance

Tim Godfray, chief executive of the Booksellers Association, has backed the stance taken by House... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tim godfray #booksellers association


Top retail m.d. urges government to tackle 'Amazon problem'

A leading retail m.d. has said the government must "address the Amazon problem" in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


French government demands £160m taxes from Amazon

France has demanded the repayment of £160 million in unpaid tax from Amazon it has been... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon’s corporation tax slammed by HOC committee

Amazon was yesterday (12th November) accused by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors protest at 'appalling' cull of Newcastle libraries

Authors Philip Pullman, childrens laureate Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman and Meg Rosoff... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors protest


iBooks Author Goes Beyond Textbooks

When iBooks Author, Apple’s multimedia ebook authoring tool, was unveiled in January, it was hailed for how easy it is to use and its ability to create rich, multimedia, and interactive educational content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-11-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks author


DC selling digital comics through Apple, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

In a move that could provide a boost to the small but growing digital comic book business, DC Comics has signed deals to sell comics through online stores owned by Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #dc comics #signed deals


Amazon Kindle Paperwhite update optimizes your Manga mania, offers quicker settings

Amazon is on the cusp of launching the complete Kindle line in Japan, so it's only right that the online retailer fine-tune its firmware for local reading habits. A new version 5.3.0 update for the Kindle Paperwhite puts much of that focus on Manga, introducing options to fit the stylized comics... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recommended content #full title #source link


Marie Claire to debut NFC technology for magazine ad

Marie Claire is to debut a near field communications (NFC)-enabled ad in its pages, after striking a deal with healthcare business Nuffield Health. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2012-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marie claire


iPad Mini: A Supercharged E-Reader with A Middling Screen and a High Price

Apple's new iPad Mini is the best small tablet on the market and makes an amazing e-reader; the only problems are its not-so-hi-res screen and it's not-quite-low-enough price tag. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ipad mini #high price #price tag


EU regulators to accept Apple and book publishers' offer of cheaper ebooks

According to Reuters, EU regulators look likely to accept an offer from Apple and a handful of publishers, including Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Livre and Macmillan. The assembled publishers propose that they will allow retailers (including Amazon) to sell ebooks cheaper than... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishers #eu regulators #hachette livre


Independent booksellers refuse to stock Amazon titles

First Barnes & Noble, then Indigo Books and Music and Books-A-Million – now some indie bookstores are choosing not to add Amazon-published titles to their bookshelves. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #indigo books #indie bookstores


Amazon targeted in ethics campaign

A consumer campaign targeting Amazon for “abusing” its power as a market leader is... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


News Corp. Unit Interested in Penguin Group

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has expressed interest in buying book publisher Penguin Group, potentially undermining merger discussions between Penguin and Random House, people familiar with the situation said. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #penguin group #rupert murdoch #expressed interest #random house #people familiar


Don’t Shout Too Loud, Amazon Might Hear

Dallas-based startup Bookshout is looking to disrupt the current ebook ecosystem with its new offering of Apple and Android mobile apps. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Waterstones’ Daunt Pimps for Amazon Kindle: Good Idea?

As the Kindle goes on sale at Waterstones stores, MD James Daunt has been defending the highly criticized decision, insisting it is to his company's advantage. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon kindle #waterstones stores #good idea


Amazon reports losses in third quarter

Amazon reported a loss of $274million (£170m) in its third quarter, blaming an unfavourable... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon reported


Ad revenue falls again at The New York Times Co.

Ad revenue at The New York Times Co. declined 8.9% in the third quarter from the quarter a year earlier as print ad revenue dropped 10.9% and digital ad revenue slipped 2.2%, the company said today. Circulation revenue, however, increased 7.4% on the strength of growing digital subscriptions and... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2012-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital subscribers #operating profit


Amazon confirms Japan Kindle launch

Amazon will open a Kindle store in Japan next month, selling Japanese language Kindle e-readers... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle store