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 intros Kindle First for those who can't wait a month for the new Gloria Gaynor book

Waiting another month for that new inspirational Gloria Gaynor book? You'll survive, most likely -- but just in case, Amazon's debuting a new program called Kindle First. Customers can get early access to new titles for $1.99 - or for free, if they're a member of the exclusive club that is... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early access #exclusive club


At Time Inc., Pearlstine Back In, Nelson Out

 Newly installed Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp announced some major management changes at the company, especially on the content side. Norm Pearlstine, who's been chief content officer at Bloomberg LP for the last five years, will be returning to Time Inc. in a newly created role of executive vice... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #content side #bloomberg lp


Amazon MatchBook makes a big push for print book buyers to go digital

Amazon MatchBook, which lets customers who've previously bought the print edition of a book from Amazon score a digital copy on the cheap, is now open for business. Months in the making, the new service is a bold plan by Amazon to convert the world's stacks and stacks of books into digital... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big push #kindle format #dating back #makes sense


Amazon launches literary magazine

Amazon.com has launched two new initiatives for its US customers – a digital literary... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Unveils Its MatchBook Print-and-Kindle Combo Deal

Amazon today launched the MatchBook program it announced last month, which lets owners of select print books bought on Amazon get the Kindle ebook versions for $2.99 or cheaper. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Matchbook service now live, works with over 70,000 books for $3 or less

Amazon's Matchbook service, which offers ebook versions of hard copies of books like Amazon's Autorip offers digital versions of physical music, is now live. The service supports over 70,000 books at launch with digital equivalents costing $3 or less. The service recognizes purchases from as far... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon releases MatchBook for Kindle

It has been nearly two months since online retail giant Amazon announced its MatchBook feature for Kindle, complimenting the previously unveiled Autorip service for music. Now, the company finally shows the feature the light of day, unveiling MatchBook availability effective today. If you aren't... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle version #prices range #digital version


Ether for Authors: Is Amazon Really in Retreat?

Porter Anderson looks at reactions to the news of Larry Kirshbaum's departure from Amazon Publishing, plus problems with print, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing will get new publisher, based in Seattle

Amazon Publishing will have a new leader when publisher Larry Kirshbaum leaves on Jan. 17 and is replaced by Daphne Durham. Durham will be based in Seattle — not the New York office. She has served as editor in chief and has already taken over responsibility for adult trade books and children’s... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2013-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #daphne durham #amazon publishing #york office #half years


Publishing Executive Larry Kirshbaum to Leave Amazon

One of Amazon.com Inc.'s top book publishing executives, Laurence Kirshbaum, will leave early next year, Amazon said, a sign of the difficulties the retailer has had in establishing itself as a major book publisher. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's top NY publishing exec to depart

Amazon Publishing, which launched a general-interest book publishing operation in New York two and a half years ago, is losing its top executive here.Seattle-based Amazon announced Friday that the head of its general-interest publishing division, Larry Kirshbaum, would leave the company Jan. 17... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #scaled back #big advances #barnes noble #joint venture #scaling back #ebook format


Amazon Publishing confirms Kirshbaum exit

Amazon publishing editor Larry Kirshbaum is leaving the company early next year and returning to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Has Big Sales Gain, Small Loss

Total revenue at Amazon increased 24%, to $17.09 billion, in the third quarter of 2013 while its operating loss was $25 million, down from $28 million in the third quarter of 2012. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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MacGregor, Phillips and McCrum to judge 2014 Orwell Prize

Broadcasters Sue MacGregor and Trevor Phillips and Robert McCrum, associate editor of the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WH Smith website back online

WH Smith's website is back online following an earlier suspension over abuse and rape themed ebooks found on its site. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harper Lee is back in court – this time suing her own hometown

'To Kill a Mockingbird' author Harper Lee alleges that her hometown is exploiting her trademark and personality rights. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Government library guidance 'hits new low'

Library campaigners have reacted angrily to new government guidance which offers advice for... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bridget Jones is pick of Super Thursday hits

Helen Fielding's new Bridget Jones novel, Mad About the Boy (Jonathan Cape), has become one... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon removes abuse-themed ebooks

Amazon removes abuse-themed ebooks from its Kindle Store after a report highlights titles depicting rape, incest and bestiality. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Back To The (Sustainable) Future: The Year 2050 In Words And Pictures

It's 2050. Somehow we haven't joined the dinosaurs in extinction, succumbed to the Secret Society of Super Villains, or been raptured up to the clouds. And the robots are friendly, not evil. Futurologist and environmentalist Sir Jonathan Porritt's The World We Made: Alex McKay's Story from 2050,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #space odyssey #parting gift #science fiction #spent years