E-book publishers side with Apple, ask DoJ to scrap new price-fixing rules

Apparently Apple isn't the only company thinking the US Department of Justice's recently imposed remedies against it were "draconian." US publishers HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and others have also ganged up on the DOJ with a legal brief opposing the punitive restrictions. In it, they say the watchdog is "attempting to impose a specific business model on the publishing industry," despite assertions it wouldn't play that role. If you'll recall, Apple was recently found guilty of price-fixing following charges filed last year. Now, the Justice Department is trying to force Apple to end its current agreements with the publishers and let rival ebook retailers like Amazon link to their own online stores. Apple earlier condemned the decision, saying it was "wildly out of proportion to any... wrongdoing or potential harm." The publishers added that it effectively punishes them by prohibiting the so-called agency model, which lets them set their own prices for ebooks and other media. A similar affair was settled rather more amicably in Europe, meanwhile, when the same band of publishers agreed to allow other retailers to sell ebooks cheaper than Apple does, if they so choose. Evidently, they feel the DOJ overstepped its bounds in the US and seem intent to back Apple to the bitter end. Filed under: Apple Comments Source: AFP Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]

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S&S UK and International CEO Ian Chapman Stepping Down

After 25 years with Simon & Schuster, the company's UK and International publisher and CEO, Ian Chapman, is to step down in May. The post S&S UK and International CEO Ian Chapman Stepping Down appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-02-17 18:48:19 UTC ]
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What Are Book Blurbs, and How Much Do They Matter in Publishing?

An announcement from Simon & Schuster’s publisher left the literary community wondering whether blurbs, the little snippets of praise on a book jacket, are all they’re cracked up to be. Continue reading at The New York Times

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My advice to male writers struggling to get published? Toughen up – and embrace poverty | Van Badham

Don’t give in to moral panic, fellas! Here are some tips from my own bumpy literary journeyIf you really want to make a name for yourself, publish comment insisting you’ve been silenced.It happened again last week in a nationwide publication. Under a byline, accompanied by a headshot and the... Continue reading at The Guardian

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Simon & Schuster imprint will no longer ask authors to obtain blurbs for their books

Publisher says expecting authors, agents and editors to secure blurbs can create ‘an incestuous and unmeritocratic literary ecosystem that often rewards connections over talent’When you buy a new book, you can usually expect to see praise from other authors emblazoned on its cover. A writer... Continue reading at The Guardian

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Why Simon & Schuster’s Flagship Imprint Won’t Require Blurbs Anymore

In a decision some might call “stunning” or a “tour-de-force,” new S&S publisher Sean Manning has decided to no longer require authors to obtain blurbs for their books. Here’s why. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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Lit Hub Weekly: January 20 – 24, 2025

RESPONDING TO THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: Kim Kelly on the how-tos and DOs and DON’Ts of mutual aid • Madeline ffitch on direct action and survival work in the face of fascism • Josh Cook on what the publishing industry can do in the face of authoritarianism. | Lit Hub Politics Matthew... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

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With No New Contract, Amazon Drops Bloomsbury UK Titles from Its Stores

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With the AI Revolution Underway, Copyright Law Must Evolve

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S&S Launches Audio Imprint Simon Maverick, Helmed by Jason Pinter

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The publishing industry can feel like an opaque, black box to aspiring authors, with countless gatekeepers—agents, editors, publicists, book buyers and more—shaping the process behind the scenes. Even established authors can find the sector confusing as they attempt to read the tea leaves behind... Continue reading at Electric Literature

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Book Publishing M&A in 2024: An Active, but Not Seismic, Year for Deals

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Blake Butler! A Dostoevskyian Turkish classic! Giftable editions! 10 new books out today.

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Penguin Random House to Distribute Boom! Studios Following Acquisition

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