iPad is a devil's deal for publishers

By Joe Wilcox, Betanews Apple's approach to magazine and newspaper subscriptions and third-party ebook sales stink of the kind of practices that got Microsoft into trouble with trustbusters on two continents during the late 1990s and early 2000s. A year ago, publishers embraced iPad as the savior of their industry. Now iPad looks like a devil's deal instead.Trouble started three days ago, when Sony said that Apple rejected its Reader software from the App Store in a policy change. Apple responded that there is no policy change. Oh? Well, if there is no overt policy change, it is effectively one of enforcement. Either way, the demands Apple is placing on publishers is too much, and arguably being made from a monopoly position. Essentially, the company wants sales to go through the App Store, which would compel the likes of Amazon and Sony to sell ebooks indirectly through Apple and would prohibit magazine and newspaper publishers from offering existing subscribers the benefits of iPad editions without paying more.Policy Change by Another NameLet's start by identifying what is or is not a policy change. Yesterday, during News Corp.'s The Daily Launch, Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of Internet Services, said that "You'll hear an announcement from us very soon for other news publications." That suggests the policy for subscriptions, at least, isn't clear -- if Apple still has something to announce. Regarding content sales, Sony surely seemed surprised about its Reader... Continue reading at 'Betanews'

[ Betanews | 2011-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Why this author is taking a stand against Amazon’s audiobook monopoly

Famed writer and activist Cory Doctorow is selling the audio version of his upcoming book via Kickstarter to sidestep the walled garden of Amazon-owned audiobook platform Audible. When science fiction writer and activist Cory Doctorow releases his new novel, Attack Surface, next month, you’ll be... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2020-09-12 09:00:52 UTC ]
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B&N Knocks Out Defamation Claim by Fired CEO

Knocking out the defamation claim is a potentially substantial victory for Barnes & Noble, as previous filings suggest that former CEO Demos Parneros was seeking approximately $70 million in damages for the defamation claim alone. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In Defense of Psychoanalysis and Writing Freudian Fiction

The year after I graduated from college, my parents got divorced. I took it rather badly. (Picture me crumpled on the floor of a Barnes & Noble, sobbing.) I’d been holding things together for a very long time, and then, with little warning, I couldn’t anymore. So I sought the assistance of a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-08-19 08:48:35 UTC ]
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With Stores Closed, Barnes & Noble Does Some Redecorating

Retail locations shuttered during lockdowns, so the company spruced up hundreds of its stores as the first step in a bigger plan. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-07-09 19:32:11 UTC ]
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B&N Makes HQ Layoffs

Even as its stores reopen, Barnes & Noble has laid off a number of employees at its headquarters, including some book buyers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This Website Makes It Easier to Buy Anti-Racist Books From Black-owned Bookstores

In the weeks since the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, books about anti-racism have consistently topped bestseller lists. Many of these books have been purchased from the likes of Amazon and Barnes & Noble. To try and funnel some of these sales to Black-owned bookstores... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2020-06-19 21:16:38 UTC ]
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B&N Slowly Reopening Stores to Customers

By the end of the week, Barnes & Noble will have 51 bookstores open for in-store shopping. In addition, 500 stores are now offering curbside pickup. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Elliott Advisors Buys Wordery, U.K. Online Retailer

Elliott Advisors, owner of Waterstones and Barnes & Noble, has bought Wordery, the online bookselling division of U.K. wholesaler Bertrams. Aurelius, which owns Bertrams, said it was "reviewing its strategic options" for the wholesaler. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble Scales Back

Barnes & Noble has now temporarily closed more than 500 stores and furloughed "a large number" of employees across all departments at its company headquarters. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble closes 65% of stores

Barnes & Noble has temporarily shut approximately 65% of its stores following the coronavirus outbreak in the US. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-26 09:54:48 UTC ]
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B&N's Daunt: 'Books Are Essential'

While total sales have fallen slightly since the outbreak of the new coronavirus at Barnes & Noble, company CEO James Daunt is confident the bookstore chain can continue to be a profitable venture with one provision—that it is allowed to keep its stores open. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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B&N, BAM Remain Open

Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million are currently continuing to operate all of their stores, although both noted they are closely monitoring new developments related to Covid-19. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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What if the main character of your favorite classic book were black? A publisher makes it so

Penguin Random House teams with TBWA and Barnes & Noble to launch #DiversityEditions for Black History Month. During the Pequod‘s last voyage in Herman Melville’s classic Moby Dick, Captain Ahab is 58 years old. Physically, he has a prosthetic leg made of whale bone, and a pale white mark or... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2020-02-05 09:00:42 UTC ]
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An indictment of education reformers, and a call to fight back

Diane Ravitch offers disturbing and inspiring tales from the battle over public schools. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-01-31 04:41:30 UTC ]
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Quinton Leaves B&N for Scholastic

Sasha Quinton, who moved to Barnes & Noble in March as v-p and general merchandise manager, will take over as president of Scholastic's book fair business on January 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Daunt on the double in The Bookseller's most influential list

Waterstones and Barnes & Noble c.e.o. James Daunt has become the first trade figure to be named person of the year for the second time in The Bookseller's annual listing of the most powerful and influential people in the British book trade. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-13 05:14:10 UTC ]
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'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse' Named B&N Book of the Year

Barnes & Noble booksellers around the country have voted to name Charlie Mackesy’s illustrated fable 'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse' Barnes & Noble’s 2019 Book of the Year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Did you know about this deleted subplot in You’ve Got Mail about a creepy author?

Thanksgiving is this week, which can only mean one thing: we’ve entered high You’ve Got Mail season. I’ve seen the movie at least a dozen times, so when today I endeavored to find an exact quote—for a blog post about Barnes & Noble, the IRL Fox Books-turned-lone-reed—I was not expecting my... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-11-25 17:58:34 UTC ]
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James Daunt at FutureBook Live: Barnes & Noble’s ‘Crucifyingly Boring’ Stores

Seeing Barnes & Noble stores' character 'crushed' by the corporate 'opulence' of American business, James Daunt says the chain must 'rip out the boring.' The post James Daunt at FutureBook Live: Barnes & Noble’s ‘Crucifyingly Boring’ Stores appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-11-25 05:05:12 UTC ]
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Daunt tells booksellers 'don't be boring' to survive Amazon era

Bookshops need to avoid being “boring” and apply a “bookseller's mind” to data if they want to survive in an era dominated by Amazon, Waterstones m.d. and Barnes & Noble c.e.o. James Daunt has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-24 17:39:21 UTC ]
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