The perception that selling ebooks by the agency model is unfair (consumers) and illegal (EU) is a big worry for publishing firms.
Digital Publishing
New app simplifies iBook publishing
Submitted by Adrian Bedford on Mon, 04/18/2011
Silicon Valley based startup iBuildApp recently added an iPad publishing solution to their suite of iPhone templates designed for the non-coder.
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eBook sales up 200% in US
Submitted by Adrian Bedford on Fri, 04/15/2011
The figures for eBook sales in the US were up more than 200% in February. The news comes contrasts with that for other sectors of publishing.
According to monthly sales estimates from the American Association of Publishers (AAP), eBook sales were up 202.3% at the 16 publishers that reported results, hitting $90.3 million.
Despite the huge hike in digital downloads, other publishing formats continued to under achieve. Adult hardcover sales plunged 43%, while mass market paperback sales tumbled 41.5%.
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EPub Direct wins top award
Submitted by Adrian Bedford on Mon, 04/11/2011
ePub Direct, an Irish eBook Management Service for publishers, saw off competition from 17 other companies, to scoop the top prize at the 14th Annual Genesis Enterprise Awards.
The Genesis Enterprise Programme nurtures, supports and develops entrepreneurs. Companies on the program must demonstrate a knowledge-based approach and export potential.
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Rowling gives nod to digital Potter
Submitted by Adrian Bedford on Mon, 04/04/2011
Bestselling author JK Rowling is to make the Harry Potter series available as an eBook.
Rowling's agent has confirmed that despite ruling out iPad and Kindle editions of the seven books for years, her position has changed.
The Edinburgh-based writer has already amassed an estimated £620m from sales of the Harry Potter series and film rights. A digital release wilt only add to this.
Liz Thomson, editor of book industry website BookBrunch, said: "I wouldn't be surprised if the rights for the eBooks are sold for £100m.
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2012 - Revenue tipping point for e-Books
Submitted by Adrian Bedford on Thu, 03/24/2011
A third of UK trade publishers surveyed predict that over 10% of their total book revenue will come from e-Books by 2012.
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Judgment stalls Google book settlement
Submitted by Richard Chirgwin on Thu, 03/24/2011
The 2008 settlement between the Authors' Guild and Association of American Publishers and Google is in limbo, after a New York District Court judge rejected it as "going too far".
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HarperCollins Limits Libraries' Use of E-books
Submitted by Patricia J Delois on Tue, 03/01/2011
The US-arm of HarperCollins has announced new titles licensed from library eBook vendors will be able to circulate only 26 times before the license expires.
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Google launches paywall service for publishers
Submitted by Adrian Bedford on Sun, 02/27/2011
Google has announced One Pass, a service that lets publishers set their own prices and terms for digital content.
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UK retailer slashes eReader price
Submitted by Adrian Bedford on Fri, 02/11/2011
British retailers appear to be embarking on a price war to secure a share in the eBook market. Last week, UK supermarklet chain Asda (owned by US giant Walmart) began selling the View Quest Mediabox for £52. A basic Kindle currently retails for £111, while the 3G version is £152.
Some newspapers have indicated the price drop signals the demise of real books, bookshops and libraries.
Asda's device isn't only an eReader, it can also play music and videos and allows readers to use a built-in voice recorder to make notes.
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