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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Quad/Graphics, LSC Call Off $1.4B Merger After Justice Dept. Suit

A month after pledging to "vigorously defend" its proposed $1.4 billion acquisition of rival publication printer LSC Communications in the face of a Justice Department lawsuit challenging the deal, Quad/Graphics announced on Tuesday that the two companies have agreed to end the fight. The... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-07-23 16:26:38 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: July 19, 2019

Ahead of Robert Mueller's testimony next week, the DPLA issues an upgraded free e-book edition of the Mueller Report; for a seventh straight year, digital audio sales show robust sales growth; and, the Little Free Library project hires a new executive director. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Panorama Project Pivots, Taps New Project Leader

As library e-book issues gain urgency, the OverDrive funded effort to measure the impact of libraries on authors and publishers taps industry vet Guy LeCharles Gonzalez to take the project to the next level. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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US Publishers Association and Authors Guild Renew Support for CASE Act

The US Senate Committee on the Judiciary has a markup session scheduled for the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act on Thursday (July 18). The post US Publishers Association and Authors Guild Renew Support for CASE Act appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-07-16 02:09:29 UTC ]
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Publishing 'sleepwalking into oblivion' over library e-book lending barriers, says librarian

The book world is “sleepwalking into oblivion” if there are not changes to the terms under which e-books are made available to libraries, a chief librarian has warned. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-02 06:29:44 UTC ]
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S&S Changes Library E-book, Digital Audio Terms

S&S officials confirmed that as of August 1, public libraries will be able to license S&S e-books for two-year terms, on a one copy/one user model, with most “new release” e-books priced between $38.99 and $52.99. Previously, S&S e-books were sold on one-year licenses, though at a... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Uber’s Latest Lawsuit Calls Out Agencies, Advertisers and Now Ad Tech

Two years ago, Uber filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against its agency partner Fetch, accusing it of running fraudulent ads. Now it looks as if the ride-hailing giant is taking the legal battle further down the supply chain. According to court documents unsealed this week, the recently IPO'd... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2019-06-19 20:45:09 UTC ]
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Ridout's Boldwood reveals 20-strong all-female launch list

Amanda Ridout has announced a "thrilling" 20-strong, all-female launch list for her new commercial fiction press Boldwood, with plans to publish in e-book, audio and print-on-demand simultaneously on a global scale.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-18 02:56:15 UTC ]
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US publisher revenues grow 6.7% in first quarter

In the first financial quarter of 2019 revenues from US publishers increased 6.7% to $2.5bn (£2bn), with growth in all categories apart from e-books and physical audio, according to the Association of American Publishers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-17 14:53:07 UTC ]
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How to use L.A. Library apps to read for free

Angelica Gonzalez used to read about a book a year. Then she discovered the Libby app, which allows anyone with a Los Angeles Public Library card to borrow e-books, audiobooks and other electronic media — for free. Now Gonzalez regularly checks out titles and transfers them to her Kindle.... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-06-12 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild and Society of Authors Allege Copyright Infringement by the Internet Archive

In a copyright flare-up, California's Internet Archive finds itself on the wrong side of the English-speaking world's two largest author trade organizations. The post Authors Guild and Society of Authors Allege Copyright Infringement by the Internet Archive appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Inception Announces Bookful, an AR Platform Licensing Penguin Random House Brands

Inception's Bookful app has the advantage of the beloved Beatrix Potter content and other Penguin Random House brands on which to base its first six digital books. The post Inception Announces Bookful, an AR Platform Licensing Penguin Random House Brands appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Levelling the field for books

Philip Jones considers the impact that EU finance ministers' decision to reduce VAT rates on digital books will have on publishers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Flipboard strengthens its European footprint

Flipboard is taking advantage of the opportunity to work with European publishers looking for stable distribution after Facebook's news feed change. The post Flipboard strengthens its European footprint appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Adding Regional Chapters

The Authors Guild has announced an ambitious plan to open at least 14 regional chapters across the U.S. this year that will host variety of programs serving members in their local writing communities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Freedom to Publish Advocacy: Authors Guild Wins ‘CockyGate’ Court Ruling

In a court case mounted with the Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild has prevailed against Faleena Hopkins in the Southern District of New York: Authors can use the word 'cocky' in titles. The post Freedom to Publish Advocacy: Authors Guild Wins ‘CockyGate’ Court Ruling appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At BookExpo, a Look at Copyright Issues: ‘It’s the Author Who Suffers’

'Good public policy,' the Association of American Publishers says at BookExpo, includes "good copyright policy.' And the Authors Guild is producing a new, major survey of authors' earnings. The post At BookExpo, a Look at Copyright Issues: ‘It’s the Author Who Suffers’ appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild, Epiphany Magazine Partner on New Student Writing Prize

The Authors Guild and literary journal Epiphany magazine have partnered to launch the Breakout 8 Writers Prize, established to "recognize outstanding emerging literary voices" among college students. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ABA, Authors Guild Slam Trump's Legal Campaign Against 'Fire and Fury'

The ABA, Authors Guild, and National Coalition Against Censorship have issued separate statements condemning a cease and desist letter sent to Henry Holt by a lawyer for President Trump demanding that the publisher stop publication of Michael Wolff's White House tell-all. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With Strong Q3, HMH Trade Sales Continue to Roll

Sales in the period for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's trade group rose 11.7%, over the comparable period in 2016. The publisher said the gain was thanks, in large part, to a jump in sales of both print and digital books. Sales in HMH's education segment fell by $6 million. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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