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 ]
News tagged with: #bad business #barnes noble #fight back #windows pcs #copyright betanews

Other Publishing stories related to: 'iPad is a devil's deal for publishers'


Philly Comics Shop Locust Moon Inks Museum Publishing Deal

Locust Moon Press teams with the Philadelphia Museum of Art to publish a comics anthology based on the museum’s upcoming exhibition. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #upcoming exhibition


Pearson agrees to sell Financial Times to Japanese publisher in $1.3B deal

Japanese publisher Nikkei Inc. agreed to acquire Pearson Plc's FT Group for $1.3 billion to gain control of the Financial Times newspaper. The sale doesn't include Pearson's 50% stake in... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2015-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #50% stake


French Publisher Strikes Landmark Deal with Comixology

With the release of more than 150 English-language graphic novels, Delcourt takes a major step to raise the profile of French graphic novels in the North American comics market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #major step


YouTube star PewDiePie strikes publishing deal for This Book Loves You

With 37m YouTube subscribers, Swedish gamer teams up with Penguin Random House for 250-page collection of ‘advice and inspirational quotes’With more than 37m subscribers, Felix ‘PewDiePie’ Kjellberg is one of the biggest stars on YouTube. Now he’s hoping to take bookshelves by storm too.The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biggest stars #publishing deal #video game


Kik joins Facebook in hunt for more publisher, brand deals

In the latest land grab for consumers’ time on platforms, Kik is stepping up efforts to court brands and media companies. The messaging app popular with millennials hired ad vet Josh Jacobs to head a new division, Kik Services, with an eye to adding games and commerce services and expand... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kik services #media companies


Facebook signs deal to directly publish news stories

Facebook has reached a deal with New York Times and eight other media outlets to post stories directly to the social network's mobile news feeds, as publishers strive for new ways to expand their reach. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #media outlets


PW Inks Archive Deal with NA Publishing

PW has struck a deal with NA Publishing that will result in the entire archive of 'Publishers Weekly' print magazine, some 750,000 pages, to be digitized. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #entire archive #print magazine


More UK publisher deals for Bookmate

Russian ebook subscription service Bookmate has agreed a deal with Bloomsbury, Faber Factory and Harlequin, which will add more than 15,000 backlist titles to its library. Faber Factory will provide Bookmate’s users with access to books from publishers including Atlantic Books, Allison &... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #titan books #oldcastle books #short books #faber factory #allison busby #john blake #history press #pushkin press


Self-published star Jasinda Wilder lands seven-figure deal with traditional imprint

After selling more than 2m ebooks under her own steam, the DIY star has now sold ‘dark, sexy’ Madame X trilogy to Berkley BooksRomance novelist Jasinda Wilder has become the latest self-published writer to land a major deal with a mainstream publisher, after her “dark, sexy” Madame X trilogy was... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #2m ebooks #major deal


Publishers offer more exclusive retailer deals

Publishers are increasingly experimenting with retailer exclusives, special editions and digital-first releases in order to make books stand out and give them the best chance of becoming bestsellers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #increasingly experimenting #special editions


Is self-publishing a good idea? I can’t get a deal for the novel I’ve written

I’m worried it will cost too much and don’t know what cover price to chargeEvery week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper.This week’s question Continue reading... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good idea #ve written #cover price


Publishing houses are throwing book deals at YouTube 'stars'

Let's say you can't get enough of it'sGrace (above) on YouTube but you're taking a week-long no-tech camping trip soon and aren't excited about missing her wit and charm. Well, host Grace Helbig's book Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing houses


Unfair Dealing? Canadian Publishing

People on both sides of the debate about how to balance access to educational materials with copyright have been closely watching developments in Canada following changes to Canadian legislation in 2012. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #canadian publishing #educational materials


Publishers urge European Commission to reject Google antitrust deal

European periodical and online publishers have urged the European Commission to reject Google’s latest proposal to settle an antitrust case.The commitments proposed by Google would not stop the company’s “abusive promotion of its own services,” the publishers said in their response, sent to the... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #european commission #latest proposal #antitrust case


Start Publishing in Deal with Mason Crest

E-book publisher Start Publishing has added 795 titles to its catalogue in a deal with independent publisher Mason Crest. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #start publishing #mason crest


Publishers Dealing at Licensing Expo 2014

The debut of Dreamworks' Awesomeness Ink imprint and a deal between Brand Bar and St. Martin's to represent a number of SMP's women fiction authors were some of the highlights coming out of the first day of Licensing Expo 2014. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Dealing with the Aftermath of MacAdam Cage Publishing

After months of uncertainty, efforts by former authors of MacAdam Cage, the now-defunct San Francisco independent publishing house, to retrieve the print rights to their books appear close to a resolution. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print rights


Dealing with Rights in Korea: Digital Publishing in Korea 2014

A seasoned rights agency knows the answers to the following questions: What kind of title will sell and what will become silverfish fodder in the warehouse? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital publishing


Four iPad Stats Every Publisher Should Know

In late December, an eMarketer report confirmed that the long awaited mobile ad spend boom had finally arrived. Mobile, the report said, drove nearly all digital advertising growth in 2013. And the mobile pie is expected to grow by another $5 billion in 2014.For publishers looking to capitalize... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #late december #$5 billion


Choc Lit deal for self-published author

Choc Lit has bought world rights in self-published author Kirsty Ferry’s adult fantasy The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published author #choc lit