Apple, ebook publishers look to settle EU antitrust dispute

Apple and four major ebook publishers have offered retailers such as Amazon.com the option to set their own prices for ebooks for the next two years in a bid to end an antitrust investigation in the European Union. The European Commission launched the investigation into allegations of cartel price-fixing by Harper Collins, Hachette Livre, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, Macmillan and Apple last December. The publishers are accused of colluding with Apple to fix the price of ebooks, forcing up prices for consumers and attempting to squeeze rivals such as Amazon out of the market. The case hinges on so-called “agency pricing”, which allows more control by publishers over retail prices, in particular an unusual “most favored nation” (MFN) clause. Apple, Harper Collins, Hachette Livre, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan have all offered to terminate existing agency agreements and refrain from adopting price MFN clauses for five years. Penguin has not offered any commitments and an investigation into its conduct is ongoing. In addition, retailers would be free to set the retail price of ebooks, offering whatever discounts or promotions they wish, for a two-year period, so long as the total value of discounts does not exceed the total annual amount of commission that the retailer receives from the publisher, reported the E.U.’s Official Journal on Wednesday. This could mean lower prices for consumers thanks to increased competition. However the Commission is asking... Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2012-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #increased competition #proposed remedies #interested parties #provide feedback

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Magazine Publishers Look to Where Digital is Booming: The Book Business

After the initial flurry of excitement surrounding the release of their digital editions, magazine publishers are now beginning to focus on the strategies behind the products. In addition to complete digital editions, many are seeking other avenues to repackage and sell digital content. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital editions #magazine publishers #book business #initial flurry


Among Big Publishers, Bonnier is Largest Ad Page Gainer in First Three Quarters of 2011

After a mainly flat first half for ad pages in 2011, big publishers are seeing ad page numbers fall in the third quarter. According to data from MagazineRadar, Meredith Corp.’s magazine portfolio saw the biggest fall out of the big consumer publishers, down 11 percent in Q3. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big publishers #ad pages #meredith corp #magazine portfolio


Headline to publish Mark Mills

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 26/10/2011 - 08:29 Headline has acquired two novels by Mark Mills, previously published by HarperCollins, and author of bestselling title The Savage Garden. Publishing director for fiction Imogen Taylor bought world rights excluding North... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #previously published #mark mills #bestselling title #gernert company


Anobii signs retail deals with publishers

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 26/10/2011 - 15:07 Social networking site Anobii has signed retail partnerships with 10 UK publishing companies, including the UK's four biggest publishers, meaning the site will sell their ebooks from the end of October. Penguin, Random... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biggest publishers #harlequin uk #random house #pan macmillan #printed books


Subtext Livens Up Ebooks With Author Commentary and Social Reading

A new social reading app called Subtext today launches on the iPad with a selection of books laden with annotations from authors and researchers. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2011-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #social reading


Esquire ad director Darren Singh appointed publisher of ShortList

Darren Singh, advertising director for Hearst's Esquire magazine, has been appointed publisher of ShortList. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big Green Bookshop turns publisher

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 25/10/2011 - 09:00 The co-owner of the Big Green Bookshop has launched his own publishing company and is set to release his first book with author Greg Stekelman. Simon Key, co-owner of the independent bookshop based in Wood Green, London, has... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon key #wood green #illustrated work #fell asleep #friday project


Octopus to publish Biggest Loser cookbook

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 25/10/2011 - 07:30 Octopus will publish the next tie-in title to ITV1 show "The Biggest Loser" next year, the third in the brand to be released by the Hachette publisher. Publishing director Stephanie Jackson made the deal for UK and Irish... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biggest loser #irish rights #shopping lists


IPC appoints Emily Hutchings as NME publishing director

IPC Media has appointed Emily Hutchings, the current publisher of weekly titles Now and Soaplife, as publishing director of music titles NME and Uncut. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ipc media #current publisher


Indies call for more educational publisher support

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 24/10/2011 - 09:25 Educational publishers have been accused of not providing enough support to help independent bookshops stay on the high street, as owners call for more discounts. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indies call #high street #owners call


First enhanced ebook from Short Books

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Mon, 24/10/2011 - 08:10 Short Books has produced its first enhanced ebook for the digital version of Birdwatching with your Eyes Closed (3rd November), the new book from Simon Barnes, author of How to be a Bad Birdwatcher. The book explores the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book explores #enhanced ebook #short books #digital version #simon barnes


Indies call for more publisher support

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 24/10/2011 - 08:25 Educational publishers have been accused of not providing enough support to help independent bookshops stay on the high street, as owners call for more discounts. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indies call #high street #owners call


Apple's Newsstand Boosting Mag Sales, But Will it Last?

Finally, publishers have a reason to cheer Apple. In the 10 days since Apple launched its Newsstand for the iPad and iPhone, many are reporting big spikes in sales of their digital editions. Ease of discovery is a big reason for the sales increase; titles are now collected in one place rather... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2011-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paid subs #high hopes #tiny part #kindle fire #strategy based #tablet market


Phone hacking scandal hits publishing

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Fri, 21/10/2011 - 08:33 The News of the World phone hacking scandal has hit the book industry, with the revelation that private material relating to individuals within the trade has been discovered by police during "Operation Weeting". Both agent... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry


DK Publishing Bounces Back

When Penguin began the restructuring of DK Publishing in 2009, it had two main objectives—to reduce the size of its list and to cut editorial costs to improve the profitability of its illustrated book group. What it hadn’t counted on was the phenomenal success of its publishing partnership with... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dk publishing #phenomenal success #publishing partnership #peter field #magical world


Authors to Get Sales Data From Three Big Publishers

Simon & Schuster, Random House and the Hachette Book Group said they would allow authors to access book sales data online, a service Amazon began providing last year. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big publishers #simon schuster #random house


Amazon Cuts Publishers Out of the Mix, Makes Deals With Writers

Releasing a book on one of the world’s largest publishing marketplaces could help your company. Here's a quick guide to the basics of self-publishing. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers and booksellers to swap working days

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Thu, 20/10/2011 - 08:30 Publishers and booksellers will soon be able to swap a working day in the life of each other’s businesses in a new joint initiative soon to be launched by the Booksellers Association and the Publisher Association. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #booksellers association #joint initiative #publisher association


AOP Summit 2011: Publishers must show courage of conviction

The opportunity to put a value on content and services should be harnessed and not feared by publishers, a panel at the AOP Digital Publishing Summit 2011 has argued. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Pattern of Success at C&T Publishing

The launch of C&T Publishing’s Stash Books imprint in early spring 2010 was a key factor in driving up sales last year at the Concord, Calif., craft and quilting book publisher, and the new imprint, aimed at a younger audience than C&T’s usual customers, continues to do well in 2011.... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #key factor #practical guide #book trade