Orwell estate hits back at Amazon's corporate 'doublespeak'

Internet retailer accused of using tactics from Orwell's 1984 in war of words with the publisher HachetteRepresentatives of George Orwell have described Amazon's selective quoting of the Nineteen Eighty-Four author as "dystopian and shameless" and "as close as one can get to the Ministry of Truth and its doublespeak".Amazon turned to Orwell for support in its long-running and public clash over ebook terms with the publisher Hachette at the weekend, comparing their battle over ebook pricing ("We want lower ebook prices. Hachette does not") to the fight Penguin had when it introduced cheap paperbacks in the 1930s. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #publisher hachette #ebook terms #ebook pricing

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Amazon Goes to the WSJ to Defend Itself

In the WSJ, Amazon's Russ Grandinetti 'defended the company against criticism that it is using its growing clout in electronic books to bully a major publisher.' Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #russ grandinetti #electronic books #major publisher


Authors Pen Open Letter to Amazon About Hachette Dispute

Two weeks ago bestselling author Douglas Preston began quietly circulating a letter to other writers that encourages readers to write to Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette dispute #encourages readers


How to Stop Facebook From Making Us Pawns in Its Corporate Agenda

Facebook’s most recently published study is not unique. This is a call to action. We should work together to demand that companies promise not to make us involuntary accomplices in corporate activities that compromise other people’s autonomy and trust. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As Amazon slugs it out with the big publishers, authors are left cowering | Adam Fletcher & Paul Hawkins

And whoever comes out on top, you can bet the poor old writer won't be any better offA few weeks ago, we published a book called Denglisch for Better Knowers, a (hopefully) humorous book about how the English language could be improved by taking new words and concepts from German. Like "ear... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook pricing #publisher hachette


FEP probes Amazon pressure throughout Europe

The Federation of European Publishers (FEP) is surveying its 28 members to assess whether they... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2014: China Publishing Group Corporation

China Publishing Group Corporation was founded in 2002 and is one of the largest holding companies in Chinese publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Amazon terms amount to 'assisted suicide' for book industry, experts claim

Report says publishers under heavy pressure to make damaging concessions including giving online retailer rights to print on demandBritish authors have condemned as "deeply worrying" reports that Amazon is now pressing for improved terms from publishers in the UK, as its showdown with Hachette... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry #deeply worrying #lower price


Amazon Demands New Terms from UK Publishers

The Bookseller reports that Amazon is making new demands on UK publishers, including the right to deliver POD titles to customers should a book be out of stock. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publishers #bookseller reports


'The Silkworm' is now available on Amazon – but the shipping time keeps changing

J.K. Rowling's bestseller 'The Silkworm' – previously unavailable to Amazon customers – can now be ordered, although shipping time is still slow. 'The Silkworm' is published by Hachette, with whom Amazon is currently involved in a dispute.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German trade body files Amazon complaint

The German trade association the Börsenverein has officially lodged a complaint against... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon pressing for new terms in UK

UK publishers have raised concerns about Amazon’s new contractual arrangements, with the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Open Road Fires Back at HarperCollins in Copyright Case

Open Road attorneys called HarperCollins' $1.1 million request for attorneys fees "shocking," and argued that such an award would universally harm authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #copyright case #attorneys fees


Amazon phone: What does it mean for bookstores?

The new Amazon Fire phone comes with technology that allows consumers to scan an item and then purchase it on Amazon.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon phone: What does it mean for bookstores? (+video)

The new Amazon Fire phone comes with technology that allows consumers to scan an item and then purchase it on Amazon.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Silkworm' In Stock at Amazon, Climbs Charts

On June 19, the book was expected to ship in one to two months. A day later, it is in stock, with one to two days processing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon cuts delays on JK Rowling novel after consumer pressure

The Silkworm, written as Robert Galbraith, was advertised with long delivery delays, but web retailer appears to have backed down· Review: The Silkworm by JK Rowling as Robert Galbraith· Digested read: The Silkworm by Robert GalbraithAmazon.com appears to have bowed to consumer pressure and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jk rowling #robert galbraith #publisher hachette #ebook form


The real 'fire' in Amazon's smartphone? A shopping spree

You’d be forgiven for thinking Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wants to compete with other phone makers with his company’s new Fire smartphone. But forget the multiple cameras and pretty 3-D-like effects, the device is really about selling more stuff.The Fire comes with close ties to Amazon’s online... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital content #drive traffic #creative strategies #key features


Amazon unveils the "Fire Phone"

Amazon has unveiled its long-awaited smartphone - The Fire Phone -containing an in-built Kindle... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Silkworm' Up for Grabs on Amazon

The latest from J.K. Rowling as Robert Galbraith, on sale today, is available from Amazon in hardcover, shipping in 1-2 months. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: 'Hard Choices' Hits #6

Hillary Clinton's "Hard Choices" failed to crack the top five on Apple's iBooks bestseller list for the week ended June 16. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #hard choices #hillary clinton