Why Apple Backed Down in Fight With Publishers

Maybe Apple isn’t so untouchable after all. The device maker, which has been locked in a battle with publishers, made a surprise concession recently, dropping a pricing requirement for its App Store that irked publishers. Before, publishers couldn't undercut the subscription price they offered in the App Store—the new guidelines do away with that requirement. The previous guidelines, issued in February, seemed aimed at ensuring Apple had a pricing advantage. They also presented a complication for publishers who are used to testing various price points to hook new subscribers and reward existing ones. Apple doesn’t say a lot about why it does what it does. But while it had gotten a few big publishers to agree to its subscription terms, it’s had pushback from companies over its terms, including the 30 percent it skims off App Store purchases and its refusal to share customer data, and it's likely this move is related to that. Other devices are coming to market, presenting new competition for Apple, and loosening the stranglehold that the company has had over content producers to this point. Plus, publishers are exploring browser-based apps that would skirt the App Store altogether. This week, The Financial Times made waves when it did just that after having rejected Apple’s subscription terms. Outsell’s Ken Doctor believes other publishers, like The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, marquee brands that are important to Apple, see the FT as a potential model to imitate... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'

[ AdWeek | 2011-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #digital editions #gregg hano #vice president #popular science #digital version

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Zinio Newsstand Back Up After Some Services Down For Four Days

Zinio's digital newsstand is back up and running after experiencing problems last Thursday through this past weekend. On Sunday, March 6, the company posted, Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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McClure to set up publishing company

Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Wed, 09/03/2011 - 08:43 Picture book author and illustrator Gillian McClure is setting up publishing company Plaister Press rather than conform to the "hugely cautious" picture book market. McClure hopes the company will eventually expand to include... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harvill Secker to publish Nanjing Heroes

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 08/03/2011 - 08:20 Harvill Secker is to publish Nanjing Heroes, a novella by Chinese author Yan Geling, which is currently being made into a film starring Christian Bale. Editor-at-large Rebecca Carter acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Transworld to publish Shaun Ryder memoir

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 08/03/2011 - 13:45 Transworld is to publish the autobiography of Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder. Editorial director Sarah Emsley acquired UK and Commonwealth rights through Matthew Hamilton at Aitken Alexander Associates. Emsley said:... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Walter Zacharius, 87, Romance Publisher, Dies

Walter Zacharius emerged from the world of true-confession magazines and paperback genre fiction to found Kensington. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Adobe Ships Tablet Publishing Suite

Adobe Digital Publishing Suite supports tablets running Android as well as RIM PlayBook and iOS tablet devices. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers express support for Gardners Hive

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 02/03/2011 - 15:24 Gardners has received backing for its Hive consumer website from publishers including Hachette UK's c.e.o. after it presented its new initiative to more than 300 publishers. The wholesaler has yet to confirm a live date for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Look Beyond Bookstores

The clothing boutique Kitson sold twice as many books in 2010 as the year before. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers' school budgets under threat

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fourth Estate to publish Someday

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing proliferates thanks to POD and digital

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PPA chief warns of looming 'penalty tax on magazine publishers'

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[ Media Week | 2011-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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IPA concerned about publisher "blacklist" in Iran

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Michael O'Mara to publish book on sitcom pioneers

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple's Subscriptions Service Upsets the Cart

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[ PC World | 2011-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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CUP publishing staff reject 2% pay increase

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Virago to publish newly discovered Daphne du Maurier stories

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Possible Apple Investigation?

According to the Wall Street Journal, publishing companies aren’t the only groups weary of Apple’s new subscription app model for the iPad tablet. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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