Amazon's updated e-book return policy looks like a big win for authors

Anyone who has been taking advantage of Amazon's liberal return policy regarding e-books could soon be in for a shock. That's because following discussions with the Authors Guild, Amazon has agreed to block automatic returns on digital books that are more than 10 percent read. Currently, the problem for authors on Amazon is that customers can return e-books online anytime within seven days of purchase no matter how much content has been consumed. That means if you can you read a book in less than a week, you can simply return it when you're done for free, resulting in a loss of profits for the author. However, under the new policy which is scheduled to go into effect sometime before the end of the year, Amazon will begin blocking automatic returns on e-books that are more than 10 read, which will then need to be reviewed by a representative to ensure that the return is genuine. The Authors Guild says the goal is to create a deterrent for people who abuse Amazon's current policy and to prevent people from treating Amazon's e-book marketplace as an ersatz library. Issues with Amazon's e-book return policy date back more than a decade, but had recently come under fire again after lifehacks about the company's guidelines began circulating online. And according to NPR, in some cases, abuse of the company's return policy even resulted in some authors having negative earnings balances, which typically happened when customers returned an e-book after the creator had been paid out... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2022-09-23 19:10:20 UTC ]

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Florida Moves to Dismiss Publisher Lawsuit Over Book Bans

Attorneys for the state of Florida have asked a federal judge to toss a closely watched lawsuit filed by six major publishers, the Authors Guild, students and parents, and several bestselling authors over HB 1069, a newly enacted state law that critics say is fueling a surge in unconstitutional... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-11-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The best ereaders for 2024

There are really two types of ereaders: Dedicated ebook/audiobook devices or slabs that are more akin to small tablets with E Ink screens. In the first category, the competition is really between Amazon’s Kindle devices and Rakuten’s Kobo readers. Ereaders in the latter group include entries... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-11-07 08:00:36 UTC ]
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Banned Books Week: A Renewed Court Challenge to Iowa

After an appeals court ruling upholds the First Amendment in school libraries, the Big Five and others renew their lawsuit of the state of Iowa. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson See also: During US Book Banning Week: A New Resolution in Congress US Supreme Court: AAP,... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-09-27 22:59:46 UTC ]
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US Supreme Court: AAP, Authors Guild File Brief on Sexual Content Law

Banned Books Week: Association of American Publishers, Authors Guild, and others file an amicus brief with US Supreme Court. The post US Supreme Court: AAP, Authors Guild File Brief on Sexual Content Law appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-09-24 18:56:17 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Reaches Agreement with Troubled TouchPoint Press

After hearing from dozens of authors about the poor business practices of TouchPoint Press, the Authors Guild has reached an agreement with founder Sheri Williams to pay authors overdue royalties, revert rights back to any author who has not yet received them, and close the press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-09-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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‘The Power Broker’ Is Finally Getting a Digital Edition. What Took So Long?

Robert Caro’s mammoth study of the urban planner Robert Moses is coming out as an e-book this month, on the 50th anniversary of the biography’s publication. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-09-12 12:39:45 UTC ]
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An appeals court upholds a ruling that an online archive's book sharing violated copyright law

An appeals court has upheld an earlier finding that the online Internet Archive violated copyright law by scanning and sharing digital books without the publishers’ permission Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2024-09-04 21:58:00 UTC ]
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The Internet Archive loses its appeal of ebook copyright case ruling

The Internet Archive is starting to run out of legal options. Wired reports that the non-profit internet cataloguer of videos, games and books lost its appeal in the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The court rejected Archive.org’s claim in its ongoing lawsuit with several high... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-09-04 20:24:53 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle is back on sale at its Prime Day price

While you can do pretty much anything on your phone or tablet, sometimes having a dedicated device is the way to go. Opting for an ereader can help reduce eye strain compared with looking at a smartphone screen for hours on end. The battery will last longer too, and you won't have notifications... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-09-03 14:56:49 UTC ]
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Major Publishers, Authors Guild Sue Over New Florida Book Banning Law

A major lawsuit challenges Florida's book banning law, SPARE is finally coming out in paperback, and how the NYPL memed its way into saving more than 50 million bucks from being cut from its budget. All in today's top book news. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-08-29 16:33:25 UTC ]
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Major Publishers, Authors Guild Sue Over New Florida Book Banning Law

The August 29 complaint over H.B. 1069 argues that the statute is vague and overbroad, and that it has led to the improper removal of hundreds of books from school and classroom libraries in the state. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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DPLA, IPG Team Up to Offer Libraries an E-Book Ownership Option

A partnership between the Digital Public Library of America and the Independent Publishers Group is offering an e-book ownership option from a wide range of indie publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Start taking digital notes in ebooks with a Kindle Scribe, now 30% off

Scribbling on the pages of a real book is a capital sin, but not when you have a Kindle Scribe. It has all the features of a Kindle except you can also write and draw directly on the pages of your ebooks. And right now the Kindle Scribe is more affordable than ever at $260 for Prime... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2024-07-10 14:20:14 UTC ]
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A Majority of Canadians Now Get Their Books for Free

A survey from BookNet Canada found that 58% of audiobook listeners in the country obtained their books from free sources, such as the library or YouTube, while 62% of e-book readers and 51% of print book readers found free sources for their reading material. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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New DPLA Campaign to Feature ‘Banned Book of the Week’

The effort will feature a banned book every Wednesday on DPLA’s social media accounts. Last year, the group launched its Banned Book Club, a program that uses GPS-based “geo-targeting” to enable readers to check out e-book versions of banned books via an e-reader app. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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OCLC Acquires CloudLibrary Digital Content Platform

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Titles to Be Restored After Bookwire, Amazon Strike New Deal

In a March 13 statement, Bookwire officials said that, while they were unable to share terms of the new agreement, "relisting of the e-book titles" on Amazon, following their delisting earlier this week during tense negotiations, "is expected shortly." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Court Orders Amazon E-book Monopoly Lawsuit to Proceed

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: March 1, 2024

Among the week's headlines: Georgia moves a step closer to banning the ALA; a library e-book bill is back in Connecticut; and librarian TikTok star Mychal Threets, who went viral for sharing 'library joy,' has left his job. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-01 05:00:00 UTC ]
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For libraries, e-book lending is a new chapter – and a new challenge

The “Netflix model” of leasing e-books to public libraries is expensive, full of limitations, and potentially a boon for censorship, librarians say. It’s a growing business model that shifts power to publishers and makes access harder for patrons. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2024-02-22 16:28:54 UTC ]
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