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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Apple, ebook publishers look to settle EU antitrust dispute'


Canadian Publishing 2011: Distribution After the Fall of Fenn

February’s news that the distributor H.B. Fenn and Company had filed for bankruptcy sent shock waves throughout the industry, and while the fallout has dissipated some, the industry is still examining what lessons can be drawn from Fenn’s demise. Although Fenn had few Canadian clients, its... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


AA Publishing expands into narrative travel

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 16/09/2011 - 16:15 Travel guide and maps specialist AA Publishing is moving into narrative travel writing for the first time, with publisher Helen Brocklehurst acquiring several titles in the area. The publisher also plans to publish in new... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Publishers rally to support Blackwell's

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Fri, 16/09/2011 - 08:30 Publishers have heeded warnings that academic booksellers had "months to survive" by offering greater support during this year's academic season, the m.d. of Blackwell's has reported. David Prescott said publishers have been... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #support blackwell #academic booksellers #heeded warnings #academic season #david prescott #high street #campus bookseller #supporting stockholding #promotional discounting #physical window


Publishers rally to support Blackwell

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Fri, 16/09/2011 - 08:30 Publishers have heeded warnings that academic booksellers had "months to survive" by offering greater support during this year's academic season, the m.d. of Blackwell has reported. David Prescott said publishers have been... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #support blackwell #academic booksellers #heeded warnings #academic season #david prescott #high street #campus bookseller #supporting stockholding #promotional discounting #physical window


Canadian Publishing 2011: Challenges and Changes

This year Canadian publishers face a triple challenge—tough economic conditions, the first big surge of ebook sales, and a dramatic shift in strategy at Indigo Books & Music, Canada’s largest book retailer. But, as is often said, no one goes into publishing unless he or she is an optimist,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook sales #dramatic shift


Canadian Publishing 2011: The British Columbia Alternative

It is, in many ways, a world away from Canada’s book publishing center in Toronto. But even three time zones, several mountain ranges, and vast forests away, the West Coast is home to Canada’s second-largest concentration of English-language publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #time zones #west coast #english-language publishers


Canadian Publishing 2011: BookRiff Set for Launch

The long awaited launch of BookRiff, the system that promises to let people mix and match content from various sources to create their own book, is now slated for the end of September. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


No end in sight for OFT ebook pricing probe

Written By: Benedicte Page and Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Thu, 15/09/2011 - 09:51 Publishers are being kept waiting for the conclusion of the Office of Fair Trading's investigation into ebook prices, begun at the start of this year, with the OFT now in the process of assessing all the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #benedicte page #fair trading #ebook prices


French publishers drop charges against Google

Written By: Barbara Casassus Publication Date: Thu, 15/09/2011 - 09:00 French publishers Albin Michel, Flammarion and Gallimard have confirmed they have dropped charges against Google for digitising copyrighted books from their catalogues without prior permission. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prior permission


ACE publishes first library strategy document

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Thu, 15/09/2011 - 08:55 Arts Council England (ACE) has released a document outlining its approach to library strategy. Culture, Knowledge and Understanding: Great Museums and Libraries for Everyone is said by ACE to be designed to provide certainty... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long term


Google readies launch of ebook service in Australia

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 14/09/2011 - 09:54 Google is close to launching an Australian version of its ebookstore, the first time the digital company has expanded the service outside the United States. The move raises speculation that a UK launch could be imminent.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook service #digital company


Francis Frith to publish Britain's First Photo Album

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Mon, 12/09/2011 - 15:50 Photograph specialist and publisher The Francis Frith Collection is to publish a tie-in title to forthcoming BBC series “Britain’s First Photo Album”. The BBC2 10-part daytime series will be fronted by John Sergeant and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publish britain #title focuses


Gollancz buys self-published adventure series

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Mon, 12/09/2011 - 15:41 Gollancz is hoping to reignite interest in the adventure game books of the 1980s after buying two books by a self-published author. Editor Marcus Gipps bought world rights to two books in the DestinyQuest series by Michael J... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published author


Publishing in Taiwan 2011

Ask any Chinese readers for their impression of books from Taiwan, and most likely they will cite meticulous editing and beautiful covers while reeling off the names of authors of literary gems, romance titles, and martial art novels. Turn to any American or European publisher, and chances are... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chinese readers #literary gems #romance titles #european publisher


French Publishers Drop Lawsuits Against Google Book Scanning

Three French publishers have dropped lawsuits against Google alleging that the company infringed their copyright. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #french publishers


French publishers may drop claim against Google

Written By: Barbara Casassus Publication Date: Thu, 08/09/2011 - 09:00 French publishers Albin Michel, Flammarion and Gallimard appear to be dropping charges against Google for digitising copyrighted books without prior permission, at least for the moment, the trade weekly Livres Hebdo has... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #french publishers #prior permission


Adobe's Digital Publishing Suite Will Support IOS 5 Newsstand Feature

Adobe has announced that its Digital Publishing Suite will support the Newsstand feature in iOS. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Faber to publish new Peter Carey novel

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 08/09/2011 - 08:45 Faber is to publish a new novel by Australian literary heavyweight Peter Carey next year, with the publisher already billing the dual-narrative title as a classic. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Huffington Post releases first ebook

Written By: Bookseller Staff Publication Date: Thu, 08/09/2011 - 08:43 The Huffington Post has turned digital publisher, releasing its first ebook, A People's History of the Great Recession by reporter Arthur Delaney, yesterday (7th September). The title is available on the UK Kindle store... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #huffington post #great recession #kindle store #apple ibookstore


How Three Publishers Are Retooling for Growth

New opportunities abound for publishers but with that comes new challenges, including determining what’s worth the time and resource investment—and what’s not. Here, three very different publishers outline how they’re reinventing existing products. Government Executive Plans to Double Revenue in... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #opportunities abound