The Abomination of Ebooks: They Price People Out of Reading

The real problem with ebooks is that they're more 'e' than book, so an entirely different set of rules govern what someone can and can't do with them compared to physical books, especially when it comes to pricing. The collusion in pricing has been a public issue for a while, but we need to talk more about how they are priced differently to consumers and to libraries. That's how ebooks contribute to the ever-growing divide between the haves and have-nots.     Continue reading at 'Wired'

[ Wired | 2013-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #real problem #physical books

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Abomination of Ebooks: They Price People Out of Reading'


Apple denies it conspired to raise ebook prices

Apple Inc. says the accusation that it conspired with major book publishers to raise the price of ebooks is untrue.Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr says that, contrary to allegations in lawsuits by the Justice Department and 15 states, Apple fostered innovation and competition by introducing its... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2012-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple says ebook price fixing charges 'simply not true,' Macmillan also responds

Not that we were expecting Apple and Macmillan to simply fess up and say, "you're right, totally tried to circumvent the free market," but both companies have come out swinging pretty hard against the allegations of price fixing. Apple has rejected the charges, calling them "simply not true." A... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple, ebook publishers accused of price fixing

Apple's Steve Jobs played a key role in a price-fixing plan with five ebook publishers, federal and state officials say in antitrust lawsuits.WASHINGTON — Former Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs was a key player in a conspiracy with five major book publishers to drive up the price of... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US sues Apple over ebook 'price fixing'

Apple and publishers Penguin and Macmillan have decided to fight US government charges that they conspired to fix the prices of ebooks, even as three other publishers agreed to a settlement aimed at lowering prices for consumers. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With the states suing over ebook price fixing, Apple needs to surrender

Attorneys General in 16 states filed suit against Apple and three publishing companies Wednesday, following a similar suit filed this morning by the US Justice Department. Unlike the federal suit, the states action also looks for monetary compensation in addition to the end of the collusive... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple's Steve Jobs conspired on ebook price-fixing, lawsuits say

WASHINGTON -- Former Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs and top executives at five major book publishers illegally conspired to raise the prices of ebooks, costing consumers tens of millions of dollars, federal and state officials alleged in antitrust suits filed Wednesday. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Justice Department formally charges Apple, big five publishers in ebook price fixing case (update)

The Justice Department has formally decided to sue Apple, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillian, Penguin and Simon & Schuster over alleged ebook price-rigging. Apple and Macmillian have already denied any wrongdoing, saying that the agreements were enhancing competition in an industry... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple, publishers face U.S. antitrust lawsuit over ebook pricing

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department on Wednesday sued  Apple Inc. and five major book publishers for allegedly colluding to fix ebook prices. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DOJ accuses Apple, five publishers of colluding to fix ebook prices

In December 2010 I asked: "Is someone fixing ebook prices?" Google's digital bookstore opened for business, and I started comparing prices only to find them fairly consistent across all retailers. I expected to see huge variances, not pricing consistency, which shouldn't be in a competitive... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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20 Percent of Americans Say They're Reading eBooks

One in five Americans say they've read an ebook in the last year, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Those numbers come from a late January survey, they're up sharply from a December 2011 survey. Pew says the jump coincides with a jump in... Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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One in five U.S. adults has read an ebook, survey says

E-books are catching on quickly, with more than one in five U.S. adults having read an electronic book in the last year. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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One-fifth of U.S. adults read ebooks as market booms, survey finds

One in five American adults read an electronic book in the last year, as gift-giving sped the shift away from the printed page, a Pew Research Center survey showed on Wednesday. Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2012-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Right pricing ebooks: Is the government actually discouraging competition?

Authors Guild President Scott Turow charges in an open letter about ebook pricing: “Our government may be on the verge of killing real competition in order to save the appearance of competition.” Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU ready to settle with publishers over ebook price-fixing, but no talks yet

European Union antitrust chief Joaquin Almunia says that the Competition Commission is open to a settlement with publishers in the increasingly high-profile ebook price fixing case, but only if the companies address key regulatory issues. Almunia says regulators are coordinating with the Justice... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lower ebook prices ahead as government threatens Apple, publishers?

The Justice Department has told Apple and five major publishers that it's planning to sue them for fixing ebook prices. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple admits to two key allegations in ebook price fixing case

While Apple and book publishers may find themselves on the precipice of an antitrust lawsuit from the Justice Department, filings in a concurrent civil class-action lawsuit obtained by BetaNews indicate that Apple has already admitted to two of the most damaging allegations in the case that the... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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U.S. reportedly warns Apple, ebook publishers about price-fixing

The U.S. Justice Department has warned Apple Inc. and five top book publishers that lawsuits over alleged ebook price fixing might be in the offing, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers warned on ebook prices

Five US publishers are being threatened with legal action over the way they set prices for electronic books according to reports. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2012-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Making ebooks even more kid-friendly: the Storia reading app from Scholastic

Scholastic's Storia reading app includes many children's titles previously unavailable in ebook format Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Random House drastically raises the price of ebooks for libraries

Oddly, Random House deciding to triple the price of its ebooks for libraries is being considered a compromise. While others, like Penguin, are pulling their electronic tomes from the virtual shelves of our lending institutions, Random House is at least willing to still play ball -- even if it's... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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