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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October Was a Rough Month for Publishing Industry Sales

With sales in the adult books and children’s/young adult categories falling 16.4% and 9.9%, respectively, total industry sales dropped 9.3% in October from a year ago for the 1,370 publishers that report results to AAP’s StatShot program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The Pandemic Still Made Its Presence Felt in Publishing in 2022

Fluctuating return-to-work policies, supply chain issues, and shifts in consumer spending were some of the ongoing issues publishing faced in 2022. And then there was the fallout from the decision by Judge Florence Pan that blocked Penguin Random House's purchase of Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The PW Publishing Industry Salary Survey 2022

Our first salary and jobs survey in three years found that the publishing industry’s lack of racial diversity and gender pay gap haven’t improved much. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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PW 2022 Notable: Florence Pan

In September, Florence Pan was confirmed as the newest judge on the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. But before she could assume that new position, she became known in publishing circles as the judge who presided over the U.S. v. Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGAA... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle Steps Down

The chief executive of the largest publisher in the U.S., Penguin Random House, has stepped down. Markus Dohle oversaw the attempted acquisition of Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-12-09 14:47:10 UTC ]
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Publishing Industry Sales Down 4.5% Through September

Total publishing industry sales fell 4.5% through September compared to 2021, with trade sales down 3.3%, at the 1,368 publishers who report revenue to the AAP’s StatShot program. Lower hardcover sales and higher returns were the main drivers in pushing down trade sales. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Lit Hub Daily: November 29, 2022

Nick Fuller Googins makes the case for selling Simon & Schuster to… the employees of Simon & Schuster. | Lit Hub The 23 best old books we read (or reread) in 2022. | Lit Hub Reading Lists Read a new translation of “The Caucasus” by Ukrainian poet-hero Taras Shevchenko: “The bones / Of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-29 11:30:48 UTC ]
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In Praise of the Worker-Owned Company (OR: What to Do About Simon and Schuster)

Well, Simon & Schuster is not going to be sold, for now. A federal judge ruled in October that Penguin Random House couldn’t buy the publisher, and since then, Simon & Schuster’s parent company has decided against mounting an appeal. That said, the future of America’s third-largest... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-29 09:53:56 UTC ]
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What’s Next for Simon & Schuster?

Paramount is likely to seek a new home for the publisher after it terminated the sales agreement with Penguin Random House. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Paramount pulls offer to sell Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House

After a judge blocked the sale of Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House, S&S parent company Paramount pulls its sale offer and declines to appeal. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-11-21 22:50:02 UTC ]
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Paramount scraps $2.2bn sale of Simon & Schuster publishing to Penguin

Penguin owner Bertelsmann will not appeal US judge’s ruling that merger would be illegal because it would hit authors’ payPenguin Random House, the world’s largest book publisher, and rival Simon & Schuster have scrapped a $2.2bn deal to merge, Penguin’s owner said in a statement on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-21 22:41:38 UTC ]
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The Merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster Is Dead in the Water

S&S has decided not to extend the deal's deadline, which prevents PRH from appealing the court's decision to block the merger. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-21 14:58:02 UTC ]
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PRH, S&S Deal Likely Dead

With the purchase agreement between Paramount and Penguin Random House set to expire, reports from multiple media sources say that Simon & Schuster's parent company will let the deadline lapse, thereby killing the deal. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House Deal on the Verge of Collapse

Penguin Random House’s agreement to buy Simon & Schuster is set to fall through. Simon & Schuster’s parent company decided not to extend it after a judge blocked the purchase. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-11-21 02:56:51 UTC ]
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Oh good, TikTok is breaking into bookselling.

We all know books have the power to move us to tears, and that those tears have the power to move books. Last year, with the sudden rise on popularity of certain titles, the publishing industry realized that BookTok might have the ability to shape the market. One reader cries on camera about... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-18 18:44:22 UTC ]
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Aaron Carter’s unfinished memoir will be released less than a month after his death.

I guess if you’re a publisher whose stated mission is to disrupt the publishing industry, you have to move fast and break things, no matter how ghoulish that makes you. Such is apparently the case for “hybrid publisher” Ballast Books (“More Than A Publisher, A Brand Builder”), who is... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-11 16:17:28 UTC ]
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The Guardian view on the book publishing industry: no one size fits all | Editorial

The failure of a recent bid to merge two large publishing companies shines a light on a central issue of cultural powerDespite a rise in self-publishing, commercial publishers are still the main gatekeepers of what arrives on our bookshelves. As such, they have great cultural and – if a book... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-04 18:25:28 UTC ]
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A Merger Between Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster Was Blocked, but Brought the Industry Little Clarity

The uncertainty comes at a time when publishing is facing slumping sales after a pandemic boom, and fears of recession. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-11-01 22:14:42 UTC ]
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Court Blocks Merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster

A Federal Court has blocked Penguin Random House's acquisition of one of its main rivals, Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-01 16:06:02 UTC ]
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Court Blocks PRH-Simon & Schuster Acquisition

In the United States, Judge Pan rules against the merger of trade book publishers Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. The post Court Blocks PRH-Simon & Schuster Acquisition appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-01 02:36:58 UTC ]
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