Leading authors call for government probe of Amazon's 'damaging' power

Malcolm Gladwell and Ursula Le Guin lead call to US justice department to investigate its ‘monopoly as a seller of books’Authors including Malcolm Gladwell, Ursula Le Guin, Michael Chabon and Ann Patchett are putting their names to a letter attacking Amazon’s “abuse of its dominance in the world of books” and calling on the US justice department to investigate the retailer’s “power over the book market”.The letter, which is due to be submitted to the department later this month, is the latest initiative from the group of powerful authors calling themselves Authors United, which was set up in the wake of the dispute over terms between the internet shopping site and Hachette last year. Douglas Preston, who founded the group, said that signatories were “pouring in” for the letter this week, with “many hundreds” putting their name to the letter, including Sara Paretsky, Francis Fukuyama, Elizabeth George, Michael Lewis, Richard North Patterson, Luc Sante, Stuart Woods and Daniel Handler. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #latest initiative #authors united #douglas preston #michael lewis #daniel handler

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Leading authors call for government probe of Amazon's 'damaging' power'


In Brazil, Amazon Starts Selling Kindles Direct, Books are Next

After 13 months of using partners to sell Kindles in Brazil, Amazon is now offering direct sales. If they can do that, books are not likely far behind. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sell kindles


Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' inspires Disney and a children's author

'The Snow Queen' inspired not only Disney's hit musical 'Frozen' but also author Karen Foxlee, who based her critically acclaimed novel 'Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy' on the wintry tale. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inspires disney #snow queen #hit musical #critically acclaimed #marvelous boy #wintry tale


Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' inspires Disney and a children's author (+video)

'The Snow Queen' inspired not only Disney's hit musical 'Frozen' but also author Karen Foxlee, who based her critically acclaimed novel 'Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy' on the wintry tale. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inspires disney #snow queen #hit musical #critically acclaimed #marvelous boy #wintry tale


YA literature convention announces authors

The organisers of the UK’s first YA literature convention has announced a range of authors... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Canadian Government Signs E-book Consent Agreements with Four Publishers

After what the government said was an 18-month investigation, Canada’s Competition Bureau has reached consent agreements with four multinational publishers regarding their ebook pricing policies. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #multinational publishers #competition bureau


Yahoo Now Powers Mocean Mobile Market

Yahoo announced a new ad partnership today with Mocean Mobile. Both companies are looking to rev up their mobile ad businesses through the new Mocean Mobile Marketplace. “Mocean Mobile will work with Yahoo to help advertisers and publishers efficiently buy and sell premium mobile inventory,”... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ad platforms #mobile advertising


5th Festival Neue Literatur to Bring German Authors to NYC

The fifth annual Festival Neue Literatur begins in NYC on February 28 with a series of readings and discussions with German-language authors. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #german-language authors


Facebook, Google and Yahoo now say when the US government requests user content (update: Microsoft too)

Last week, the US government finally relented on letting technology companies publish more detail about national security requests; today, some bigger firms are taking advantage of the looser rules. Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Yahoo have updated ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taking advantage


Class Plaintiffs: Apple Should Pay $840 Million in Damages

If the plaintiff number is granted, it would put the total damages in this ebook conspiracy at over $1 billion. Five publishers have already paid $166 million. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #$1 billion


Two Authors Launch Brown Girls Publishing

Bestselling Simon & Schuster authors Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley are now teaming up on the business side: the two writers are launching Brown Girls Publishing, a new digital publishing venture that debuts today. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business side


Book the Writer service brings authors to book clubs – for a fee

While authors have appeared in person, via Skype or via telephone at book clubs before, Book the Writer has the clubs pay for the author's appearance. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book clubs


Amazon and Kobo tie for title of favorite ebook seller in survey

The survey was conducted by the site Good e-Reader among participants whom Good e-Reader estimated buy between 50 and 100 books a year. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon Posts A (Small) Profit

Total sales in Amazon’s fourth quarter in 2013 rose 20% over the last quarter of 2012, hitting $25.59 billion, while net income rose to $239 million from $97 million in last year’s final period. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon posts #fourth quarter #small profit #total sales #$239 million


Filing Schedule Set for Apple’s Damages Trial

Amid more legal maneuvering, Judge Denise Cote this week officially set a briefing schedule for Apple’s ebook damages trial. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #damages trial


Scribd takes on Amazon, brings its subscription ebook service to Kindle Fire tablets

The whole point of owning an Amazon tablet is that you're eventually gonna buy stuff. Want movies? Amazon's got you covered. Music? Time to check out Amazon's MP3 store. And then, of course, there's books: Amazon expects you to buy lots and lots of ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #scribd takes


Kate DiCamillo's 'Flora & Ulysses' earns author a second Newbery award

Kate DiCamillo wins Newbery: The awards, the most prestigious in children's publishing, were announced Monday by the American Library Association. DiCamillo, a popular and acclaimed author, won the Newbery a decade ago for 'The Tales of Despereaux.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kate dicamillo #announced monday #acclaimed author #decade ago


Symons and Telfer to lead PRH sales and consumer teams

Penguin Random House UK has announced a new sales leadership structure, and a new team bringing... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Issues on the Ether: Profit-Sharing Authors

Porter Anderson looks at Ian K. Ellard's concept of authors sharing profits with publishing-services experts in his winning essay at The Bookseller, The Toast. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #porter anderson


South Korea authors heading for LBF

Ten prominent South Korea writers will attend the Korea Market Focus cultural programme at the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


ProPublica's Richard Tofel: 'Our mission is to end abuses of power'

The president of the non-profit investigative journalism website on measuring impact, team work – and Edward SnowdenRichard Tofel has had a dream. It came upon him the night before we meet and he is still a little rattled by it. In it, he found himself performing his old role at Dow Jones, where... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #broadcast networks #investigative unit