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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Amazon's battle with Hachette is a fight for readers, writers and retailers | Hugh Howey

As things stand, Hachette is making ebook discounts impossible, and almost everybody else stands to lose, writes Hugh HoweyNews: New Amazon terms amount to 'assisted suicide' for book industry, experts claimHow much should an ebook cost? And how should that money be split? These two questions... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Special Report: Digital Printing

Welcome to a special educational series about digital printing solutions and technology. Here, we look at the value proposition of digital printing, and take stock of the current thoughts and practices in the publishing industry in implementing a hybrid printing program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gallery Books in Deal with Omnific

Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books division has entered into a co-publishing agreement with Omnific Publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Malorie Blackman: I love gadgets, but e-reading has to be carefully handled

Childrens Laureate enthusiastic about children reading digitally but thinks publishers should proceed with cautionAuthor and Childrens Laureate Malorie Blackman is enthusiastic about the potential for children to read books digitally, but thinks the publishing industry should proceed with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Tarted-Up Book Covers Belittle Women's Fiction

The publishing industry's packaging of women's literary fiction in stereotypically girly covers makes great books seem trashy.If you take a look at the cover of Alice Munro's latest Nobel Prize-winning short fiction collection, The View From Castle Rock, you probably wouldn't guess it includes... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Claim Apple Order Illegally Hobbles Return to Agency Model

In appeal filings last week, lawyers for Simon & Schuster and Macmillan contend that Judge Denise Cote's injunction against Apple has made a timely return to a “no-discount” agency model for ebooks all but impossible. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is the e-reader on its way out?

Predictions that the e-reader is done seem to be everywhere. What do those forecasts really mean for the publishing industry? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2014: Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster is owned by CBS Corporation and its imprints include Pocket Books, Scribner, and Atria. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Steamy One Direction Fan-Fic Snags Six Figure Advance from S&S

After gaining more than 800 million reads on Wattpad, 25-year-old Anna Todd was given a six figure advance from Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Are Digital Distractions Monopolizing Reading Time?

Books do furnish a room, but according to many in the publishing industry, the fear is that emails, online video texts and tweets will prevent them being read. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obiturary: Helene Green

Helene Green, v-p, business information and data operations at Simon & Schuster, died June 10 after a long illness. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Helene Green

Helene Green, v-p, business information and data operations at Simon & Schuster, died June 10 after a long illness. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S buys three from Luca Veste

Simon & Schuster has acquired rights to former Avon author Luca Veste’s new crime novel... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is Amazon Really the Devil?

The Amazon-Hachette dispute is a lot more nuanced than has been portrayed in much of the coverage. The retailing giant has its (sometimes anonymous) defenders in the publishing industry, and Hachette has its critics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Adds InkedIn to Author Portal

Simon & Schuster has launched InkedIn, a new online community for S&S authors that lets them hold one-on-one or group discussions on publishing related topics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DeMille Moves to S&S In Major Deal

Nelson DeMille has signed a six book deal with Simon & Schuster. The bestselling author, who was at Hachette, will release his first book with S&S in 2017. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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One Direction fanfic author inks worldwide book deal

Following the success of Anna Todd's After series, the wildly popular stories starring the boy band will be published at the end of the year Is fan fiction something to be feared? And where did it all begin?Simon & Schuster have inked a deal for worldwide rights to One Direction fanfic.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Big Children's Books at BEA

For readers of all ages and interests, there were no shortages of titles to grab, snag, and talk about. YA continues to generate long lines and lots of attention. At Simon & Schuster, one of the big teen titles was Scott Westerfeld's Afterworlds—and not just because BEA factors into the... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Clinton Wins The Vote on Social Media

As questions continue to swirl about Hillary Clinton’s potential run for the presidency in 2016, her still-unpublished book, "Hard Choices" (Simon & Schuster), was the most buzzed about title on social media in May. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Thrilling Thriller: Chris Pavone

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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