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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The Week in Libraries: August 11, 2023

Among the week's headlines: librarians, educators, and publishers grapple with new state book banning laws; bestselling author John Green responds to having his books pulled from library shelves; a proposed judgment has been filed in the Internet Archive copyright case; and PEN America publishes... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Markus Dohle, Ethan Mollick to Keynote AI Webinar

Former Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle and Ethan Mollick, associate professor at the Wharton School and author of the newsletter 'One Useful Thing,' will present keynote addresses at PW’s Artificial Intelligence: Revolution and Opportunity in Trade Publishing webinar on September 27. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon removes books ‘generated by AI’ for sale under author’s name

Jane Friedman claims she had to fight against Amazon’s refusal to remove the misattributed titles because she had not trademarked her nameFive books for sale on Amazon were removed after author Jane Friedman complained that the titles were falsely listed as being written by her. The books, which... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-09 14:28:36 UTC ]
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Now we await Megan Fox’s “dark” poetry.

In big news for bodies keeping the score and also bibliotherapy, Simon & Schuster have announced the November 7 release of actor Megan Fox’s debut poetry collection, Pretty Boys Are Poisonous, with imprint Gallery Books. Per the press release: “These poems were written in an attempt to... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-08 16:42:42 UTC ]
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Judge Punts 'Trump Tapes' Case to New York, Slams Trump for Forum Shopping

In an August 4 ruling, federal judge M. Casey Rodgers transferred Trump's $50 million copyright suit against Bob Woodward and publisher Simon & Schuster to the Southern District of New York, where Trump was hit with sanctions for filing a frivolous lawsuit earlier this year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Posts Solid Second Quarter

Led by another good performance by its audiobooks division and "fantastic" results in the U.K., operating income rose 14% at Simon & Schuster in the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 over the comparable period last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster purchased by private equity firm KKR for $1.62 billion

Simon & Schuster has been sold to the private equity firm KKR, months after a federal judge blocked its purchase by rival publisher Penguin Random House because of concerns that competition would shrink the book market Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-08-08 02:22:18 UTC ]
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KKR Agrees To Buy Simon & Schuster for $1.62 Billion

The acquisition of Simon & Schuster by KKR, Jonathan Karp says, is enhanced by KKR's interest in company growth and employee equity. The post KKR Agrees To Buy Simon & Schuster for $1.62 Billion appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-08-07 21:40:44 UTC ]
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Deal for Simon & Schuster Said to Be Near

The private investment firm KKR, HarperCollins, and Richard Hurowitz of the investment firm Octavian & Company are all said to still be in contention to acquire the country's third largest trade publisher. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Sets AI Webinar for September 27

Artificial Intelligence: Revolution and Opportunity in Trade Publishing, a half-day online program, will run the afternoon of September 27. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Exclusive: See the cover for Téa Obreht’s next novel, The Morningside.

Literary Hub is pleased to reveal the cover for The Morningside, the third novel by bestselling, award-winning writer Téa Obreht, which will be published by Random House in March. Here’s a little bit more about the book from the publisher: After being expelled from their ancestral home in a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-02 14:00:09 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: July 28, 2023

Among the week's headlines: a coalition of booksellers and publishing industry groups sue Texas over the state's new book rating law; a judge in Arkansas is set to rule on a motion to block that state's 'harmful to minors' law from taking effect; and a Houston school district's plan to replace... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of July 24, 2023

Cassidy Hutchinson, a former assistant to both Donald Trump and Mark Meadows, sells a memoir to Simon & Schuster, and Amistad buys a book by couture designer B Michael about his friendship with actor Cicely Tyson. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Margaret Atwood among thousands of authors demanding compensation from AI companies

Margaret Atwood, James Patterson and Suzanne Collins are among thousands of writers endorsing an open letter from the Authors Guild urging AI companies to obtain permission before incorporating copyrighted work into their technologies. ... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-07-18 21:52:26 UTC ]
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James Patterson, Margaret Atwood among thousands of writers urging AI companies to honor copyrights

James Patterson, Suzanne Collins and Margaret Atwood are among thousands of writers endorsing an open letter from the Authors Guild urging AI companies to obtain permission before incorporating copyrighted work into their technologies Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-07-18 20:54:45 UTC ]
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Rights Edition: Tokyo and Kansai Rights Meetings Announced

Two rights meetings are being restored to physical operations in November by Japan's Publishing Industry Foundation. The post Rights Edition: Tokyo and Kansai Rights Meetings Announced appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-07-14 19:34:33 UTC ]
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Likewise Expands Book Recommendation Partnership with Simon & Schuster

The collaboration aims to recommend Simon & Schuster authors and featured titles across Likewise's entertainment suite, which includes a newsletter, a mobile and TV app, and social media platforms. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Britney Spears’s ‘brave’ tell-all memoir out in October

The Woman in Me, which will cover pop star’s conservatorship experience among other topics, is set for release later this yearBritney Spears will release her tell-all memoir, The Woman in Me on 24 October, the publisher announced on Tuesday.The Woman in Me will be “a brave and astonishingly... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-11 16:02:28 UTC ]
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CONTEC Mexico: ‘Is the Publishing Industry Sustainable?’

In his opening keynote at CONTEC Mexico, Hugo Setzer has encouraged publishers to join the SDG Publishers Compact and work together. The post CONTEC Mexico: ‘Is the Publishing Industry Sustainable?’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-07-05 19:17:56 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House’s New Inklore: ‘Pop-Comics’

The new Random House Worlds 'pop-comics' imprint Inklore is acquiring manga, manhwa, manhua, and more for a 2024 launch. The post Penguin Random House’s New Inklore: ‘Pop-Comics’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-06-30 15:54:25 UTC ]
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