The Guardian view on changes to copyright law: book lovers beware | Editorial

A government proposal to ease restrictions on the sale of imported cultural works risks harming a world-class industryThe hoopla around the release of Sally Rooney’s new novel on Tuesday – with bookshops opening early, and queues of shoppers eager to lay their hands on Beautiful World, Where Are You – has contributed to the image of a publishing industry in rude health. Last year had the highest sales in eight years. Yet authors, bricks-and-mortar bookshops and publishers alike fear that the industry faces a powerful new threat, if cheap editions legitimately produced for an overseas market are allowed to be sold in the UK. Kazuo Ishiguro, Bernardine Evaristo and others have warned that the effect on writers would be devastating.EU regulations meant that UK producers could prevent the importation of such books into Britain; in the wake of Brexit, the government is considering reversing this. A report proposes to change how we deal with the exhaustion of intellectual property rights. The document, from a taskforce headed by Iain Duncan Smith, Theresa Villiers and George Freeman, argues that, apart from limited exceptions, “in general, protectionist use of IP rights should be resisted”. It suggests that we liberalise parallel import laws “to reduce prices and increase choice for consumers” (in notes from a familiar Tory hymn sheet). This would mean that a non-UK publisher, say, that has legitimately bought the rights to publish Harry Potter, could then sell those books back... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-09-07 18:00:33 UTC ]
News tagged with: #kazuo ishiguro #bernardine evaristo #limited exceptions #reduce prices #publishing industry

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Guardian view on changes to copyright law: book lovers beware | Editorial'


Amid Controversy, Israel Repeals Its Fixed Price ‘Book Law’

Israel has repealed its Law for the Protection of Literature and Writers, which required fixed book prices for 18 months and minimum author royalty rates. The post Amid Controversy, Israel Repeals Its Fixed Price ‘Book Law’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amid controversy


Google wins copyright battle over books

The US Supreme Court will not hear an appeal from a group of authors who claim Google breached copyright laws by scanning books. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2016-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #supreme court


London Book Fair 2016: Hachette CEO Presses Chinese Publishers, Blasts EU Copyright Proposals

Hachette CEO Arnaud Nourry said defeating the European Commission's copyright proposals should be the IPA's "number one" goal. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #european commission


Guardian First Book Award to close after 17 years

The Guardian First Book Award is to close after 17 years due to a crowded "awards landscape" and the financial constraints of running the prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book award #financial constraints


5 resonant quotes from Pat Conroy, book lover

Conroy was one of the nation’s – and perhaps the world’s – most enthusiastic lovers  of books. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pat conroy #book lover


DBW Preview: Dr. Jessica Sänger on Global Implications of Changing Copyright Law

Ahead of Digital Book World 2016, Dr. Jessica Sänger of the German Booksellers and Publishers Association gives some context to discussions about changing copyright laws. The post DBW Preview: Dr. Jessica Sänger on Global Implications of Changing Copyright Law appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jessica snger #german booksellers #publishers association


My Job In 5, Sarah Sleath, production and editorial assistant/ publicity and marketing assistant, Swales and Willis/Impress Books

This week I asked Sarah Sleath about he dual role as both production and editorial assistant and publicity and marketing assistant at both Swales and Willis and Impress Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marketing assistant #dual role


Square Peg buys gift book for Britain's bird-lovers

Square Peg has acquired a book by naturalist Stephen Ross about one of Britain’s favourite birds, the robin. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #square peg


McMillan first poet to win Guardian First Book Award

Andrew McMillan has become the first poet to win the £10,000 Guardian First Book Award with his “elegantly poised and intimate” collection of poems, Physical (Jonathan Cape). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #andrew mcmillan #book award


Younge's book on American child shootings to Guardian Faber

Guardian Faber has signed a non-fiction title called A Day in the Death of America by the Guardian's editor-at-large Gary Younge. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #guardian faber


ABA Head Rings Alarm About Amazon Books and Antitrust Laws

In light of Amazon opening a physical store in Seattle, the booksellers association head is reminding publishers and other vendors of their obligation to ensure that accounts do not transfer inventory from one class of business to another. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon books #antitrust laws #amazon opening #physical store


Porter and Obioma shortlisted for Guardian First Book award

Andrew McMillan’s series of “hymns to the male body”, Physical (Jonathan Cape), has become the second collection of poetry to be shortlisted for the Guardian First Book award since it was established in 1999. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book award #andrew mcmillan


Bizarre Romanian Law Frees Convicts Who Publish Books

A law in Romania allows prisoners who publish books to cut months off their sentences. Several imprisoned politicians and businessmen have taken advantage. The post Bizarre Romanian Law Frees Convicts Who Publish Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publish books


Dung Beetle spoofs Ladybird after books copyright row

Artist who was forced to withdraw pastiche of children’s books hits back with fresh satireThe artist who was threatened with legal action by Penguin for a humorous book introducing children to the art world in the style of the Peter and Jane readers from the 1960s and 1970s has taken satirical... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dinner parties


Ingrid Law's 'Switch' Book Tour: A Photo Essay

To celebrate her new book, 'Switch,' Ingrid Law criss-crossed the country on a book tour that spanned Colorado to Georgia. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book tour #photo essay


Canadian Publishing 2015: Changes to Canadian Copyright Law Continue to Hammer Publishers

According to a new report, changes to Canada’s copyright law have had devastating effects on educational publishers and will ultimately contribute to a decline in the quality and quantity of content available to students. Trade publishers say they, too, are feeling the impact. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #copyright law #educational publishers #trade publishers


Indie publishers strong on Guardian First Book longlist

Books published by independent publishers dominate this year’s Guardian First Book Award longlist, with Granta editor Max Porter’s novel among those longlisted. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Guardian launches children’s book festival

The Guardian is organising a children’s literature festival – a free one-day event in London on 29th August, featuring authors such as Sarah McIntyre, Philip Reeve and Paul Strickland. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book festival #literature festival #29th august #featuring authors #sarah mcintyre #philip reeve


Fearing Piracy, Authors Guild Pushes Change to Copyright Law

Citing a major uptick in Internet piracy, the Authors Guild has urged Congress to require ISPs to monitor and filter the Internet for pirated works. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #copyright law #authors guild #require isps


Guardian Faber signs bird names book

Guardian Faber has signed a book on the history of bird names by nature writer Stephen Moss. Mrs Moreau's Warbler: How Birds Got Their Names will be published in autumn 2017, following a deal for world English rights between Laura Hassan at Guardian Faber and Broo Doherty at DHH Literary... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #natural history #guardian faber #laura hassan #broo doherty