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’s Attempts to Rule the .Book Web Raises Hackles

The Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild, are fighting Amazon's bid to own new global domain names including .book, .author, and .read. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Many Copies Does It Take To Be an Amazon Bestseller?

Amazon, the biggest bookseller in America, is also famously one of the most tight-lipped. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Axel Springer Sees Earnings Hit by Investment, Restructuring

FRANKFURT, March 6 (Reuters) - German publisher Axel Springer on Wednesday forecast a drop in profitability in 2013, expecting investments in its digital business and restructuring efforts in its declining printing business to weigh on results. The ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bologna at 50: Looking Back, Forging Ahead

For many children's book industry professionals around the globe, a trip to the Bologna Children's Book Fair has become a familiar, and always welcome, rite of spring. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German Powerhouses Launch Tolino Ebook Platform to Take On Amazon

German Thalia, Weltbild, Hugendubel, as well as Bertelsmann and Deutsche Telekom, have launched Tolino, a new ebook platform to compete with Amazon. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Did Amazon Just Kill a Golden Goose?

By curtailing paid commission to free ebook listing sites, Amazon is penalizing the big traffic producers that generate brand loyalty and other purchases. But why? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why is Amazon Trying to Squash Availability of Free Ebooks?

Amazon's decision not to pay commission to affiliate sites linking to free Kindle ebooks likely signals a shift in strategy, and has affiliates up in arms. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle Gets Exclusive Role In New PTA Family Reading Program

Amazon's got a new Kindle promotion vehicle, thanks to the National PTA, which wants to boost kids' reading with their families. Amazon's Kindle is the exclusive sponsor of the new Family Reading Experience program that the National PTA wants to roll out across the U.S. to boost kids' reading... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble 'founder' pondering bid to buy back retail business, hive off Nook Media

Just 12 hours after (already denied) rumors circulated that Barnes & Noble may ditch its Nook business, the company has had to make an announcement concerning its retail division. Thanks to SEC regulations, the company has had to 'fess up that majority shareholder and "founder*" Leonard... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three indie bookstores file lawsuit against Amazon and Big Six publishers

The stores charge that secret agreements made between the publishers and Amazon give Amazon the advantage in selling ebooks, but some industry observers find flaws in their logic. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon makes White Glove push to agents

Amazon is pursuing more direct relationships with literary agents and authors, targeting them... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Germany backs out of World Book Night 2013

After only one year Germany's participation in international World Book Night celebrations... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mantel climbs Amazon charts as press storm continues

Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall has climbed the Amazon charts following saturation media coverage... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon fires German security firm

Amazon has fired the security company it employed to oversee its warehouse operations over... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Daunt questions Amazon warehouse practises

James Daunt has restated his view that Amazon operates in an advantageous fiscal environment in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With New Plan, APP Works to Win Back Customers

After announcing in early February that it had discontinued sourcing paper from threatened Indonesian rainforests, a representative of Singapore-based Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) was at the International Toy Fair Show in New York last week to explain the policy to toy companies and children’s... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon attacked in German documentary

Amazon is said to be involved in a scandal in Germany, with a documentary accusing the retailer... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Moves Closer to Selling Used Ebooks

Amazon has patented a technology that allows customers to sell their previously read ebooks, audiobooks, music and movies in the same way that they can now sell print books, DVDs, and CDs. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As E-books Grow, So Does Amazon

With ebooks’ share of unit sales rising from 14% for the first nine months of 2011 to 22% for the same period in 2012, the biggest winners among retailers were Amazon and dedicated ebookstores and digital download sites. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google backs French digital publishing innovation initiative with €60 million incentive

Google's long had a contentious relationship with France. But it seems the Mountain View-based company has come up with a way to squash that problem: by throwing money at it. Taking to the company's official blog today, Chairman Eric Schmidt announced the creation of a €60 million Digital... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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