Those who take on the global industry that traps research behind paywalls are heroes, not thievesNever underestimate the power of one determined person. What Carole Cadwalladr has done to Facebook and big data, and Edward Snowden has done to the state security complex, Alexandra Elbakyan has done to the multibillion-dollar industry that traps knowledge behind paywalls. Sci-Hub, her pirate web scraper service, has done more than any government to tackle one of the biggest rip-offs of the modern era: the capture of publicly funded research that should belong to us all. Everyone should be free to learn; knowledge should be disseminated as widely as possible. No one would publicly disagree with these sentiments. Yet governments and universities have allowed the big academic publishers to deny these rights. Academic publishing might sound like an obscure and fusty affair, but it uses one of the most ruthless and profitable business models of any industry.The model was pioneered by the notorious conman Robert Maxwell. He realised that, because scientists need to be informed about all significant developments in their field, every journal that publishes academic papers can establish a monopoly and charge outrageous fees for the transmission of knowledge. He called his discovery “a perpetual financing machine”. He also realised that he could capture other people’s labour and resources for nothing. Governments funded the research published by his company, Pergamon, while... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2018-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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IPPY award-winners announced, a new kids' imprint at Barbour, a website for all things Amish, the popes in pictures and much more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nick Hern Books will publish a book from Monty Python member Michael Palin, ahead of the comedy... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Canadian province has been a stealthy focus for French publishers, but its booksellers are also looking towards ParisThe Canadian province of Quebec has about 6 million French-speaking inhabitants. In comparison there are only 4.2 million French-speakers in Belgium. French publishers have... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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France's literary market has great potential, yet big firms remain reluctant to learn the language of international rights tradingSix thousand languages are spoken worldwide, but few have a market for books. French is the fifth-largest language pool, coming after Chinese, English, Spanish and... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The International Publishers’ Association (IPA) and the Federation of European Publishers (... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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IDW Publishing announced plans to reprint the entire run of classic Parker prose novels, all of which will feature new painted illustrations by acclaimed comics artist Darwyn Cooke. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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When the APA hands out the prizes at its annual Audie Awards Gala on May 29, actor and narrator George Guidall, who has given voice to more than 1,100 audiobooks, will receive a Special Achievement Award. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Subscription ebook service Oyster announced that it has added about 500 new publisher partners and its library of ebooks has increased to more than 500,000 titles, including an expanded partnership with HarperCollins. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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CUNY has announced the roster for its second annual Publishing Institute, to be held in New York City June 2–6. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Luxury international bookseller and publisher Assouline is to open a new store in London’s... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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#open bookshop
The latest news on religion publishing for spring 2014. New books and apps, author interviews and much more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Premier Media Group publishes two local magazines aimed at Seattle suburbs, but the company is betting there's wider appeal for its yet-to-be-launched title: 425 Business. Just like the name suggests, the title will cover business news and culture for the 425 area co Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2014-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Like many people across the business world, publishers have a skeptical view of so-called Big Data, seeing it as “the next big hype.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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March marked the one-year anniversary of the formation of the Readium Foundation (Readium.org), an independent nonprofit started with the objective of developing commercial-grade open source publishing technology software. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Little, Brown is to publish an “exceptionally beautiful and inspiring visual memoir”... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German publisher Bastei Lubbe is the latest overseas publisher to use digital distribution to enter the U.S. market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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#digital distribution
Sameer Hashmi reports from a bookstore in Mumbai, where a thirst for political insight is driving up book sales. Continue reading at BBC World
[ BBC World | 2014-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Seven of the 17 titles shortlisted [see below] for the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Journalist and author Edward Klein is returning to Regnery Publishing to release "Blood Feud," an account of the relationship between the Obamas and the Clintons. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Disney Publishing Worldwide and Del Rey Books are teaming up to do a new line of Star Wars adult fiction novels. The publishers will be working directly with brand creator, Lucasfilm. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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