Authors fear the worst if Penguin owner takes over Simon & Schuster

Analysis: if Bertelsmann, owner of Penguin Random House, buys US publisher, writers expect smaller deals and less choice for readersUK watchdog investigates Penguin owner’s Simon & Schuster takeoverJokes circulated online when, in 2013, Penguin and Random House merged: would the new mega-publisher, which became the world’s biggest trade publishing group, be known as Random Penguin? Penguin House? Now, as the prosaically named Penguin Random House’s parent company Bertelsmann’s $2.17bn acquisition of Simon & Schuster comes under scrutiny in the UK, the jokes are fewer and further between.Authors have made it abundantly clear that they fear the fallout if the deal goes ahead. When it was first announced last November, the Authors Guild in the US was quick to register its objections. The acquisition, which would bring heavyweight S&S authors including Hillary Clinton, John Irving, Stephen King and Bob Woodward under the PRH umbrella in the US, would “creat[e] a huge imbalance in the US publishing industry”, it warned, calling on the US justice department to step in. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-03-22 23:24:23 UTC ]

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E-book discounts appearing at Amazon following publisher settlement

Wow. Judge Denise Cote certainly knows how to put a spring in the step of mega corporations. Mere days have passed since she ordered HarperCollins to let retailers to set their own ebook prices, and yet already Kindle bestsellers from that publisher are selling for around $9.99 -- in some cases... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After the DoJ Settlement

On September 5, federal judge Denise Cote approved a deal between the Department of Justice and three publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster) to settle claims of ebook price fixing. What happens now? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judge approves settlement for Hachette, Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins in ebook lawsuit

It's a big day in the world of ebooks, and not just for the crew at Amazon. Today, Judge Denise Cote approved settlement terms for three of the publishers accused by the Justice Department of price fixing. Hachette Book Group, Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins each agreed to settle with the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judge Approves Settlement in E-Book Pricing Case

In a move that could reshape the publishing industry, a federal judge has approved a settlement with three of the nation's largest book publishers over alleged collusion in the pricing of ebooks. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU investigation: publishers 'concede ebook discounts'

Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Livre and Macmillan owner Verlugsgruppe Georg von... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book price-fixing: three publishers agree to pay $69 million to consumers

Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster say they will pay consumers to settle claims they conspired to fix ebook prices. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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States reach $69 million settlement with three publishers in ebook price fixing case

When the US Department of Justice sued Apple and five major book publishers over alleged ebook price rigging, it immediately became clear that a few of these companies would do just about anything to avoid trial. That same day, three of the publishers -- HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US publishers face $69m payout for price-fixing

Hachette US, HarperCollins US and Simon & Schuster US have agreed to pay out a total of more... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google buys Frommer’s Travel Guides

John Wiley & Sons work to sell off unwanted assets as Google makes its foray into the publishing industry.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Random House looks to develop IP

Random House UK has become the latest publisher to bolster its capabilities in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Books case tests the limits of copyright law

The Authors Guild is seeking more than $2 billion in damages from Google Books – which may make this one of the most expensive copyright damages cases in litigation history. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Agency lawsuit hits S&S profits

  Simon & Schuster's sales rose 3% year-on-year to $189m in the second quarter... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With Key Filings in, Trials Loom In Google Book Cases

After a round of key filings, two Authors Guild cases challenging Google’s ambitious library book-scanning program are on schedule for early fall trial dates. Final reply briefs were filed July 27 for the Authors Guild v. HathiTrust, with that case now fully briefed and all but set for a... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Short Books teams up with S&S US

UK indie Short Books has teamed up with Simon & Schuster US imprint, Atria Books, to ... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Atria Inks Co-Pub Deal with U.K.’s Short Books

Simon & Schuster’s Atria imprint has teamed up with British independent publisher Short Books to start a new imprint called Marble Arch Press. The imprint—the name refers to the famous London landmark near Hyde Park—will premiere in fall 2012, releasing (in the U.S. and Canada) roughly 12... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Random House US launches TV division

Random House US has launched a television division, formed in partnership with fellow Bertelsmann... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Random to launch ebook distribution service

Random House has announced plans for the creation of a digital one-stop shop to aid the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nadifa Mohamed to S&S

Nadifa Mohamed, author of Black Mamba Boy, has moved from HarperCollins to Simon & Schuster... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Senator Schumer sides with Apple and publishers in ebook price fixing case

A prominent Senate Democrat sided with Apple this week, and called on the Justice Department to drop its ebook lawsuit against the Cupertino, Calif. company. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote in an opinion piece that appeared in the Wednesday edition of the Wall Street Journal that a victory... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Schumer challenges DOJ on ebook lawsuit

Sen. Charles Schumer wrote in an op-ed that the Department of Justice's lawsuit could 'wipe out the publishing industry as we know it.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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