Though Google failed in their recent attempt to block fresh certification of the author class in the long-running lawsuit over the library book scanning project, the search giant continues to try to bring the legal battle to an end. In a series of submissions last Friday, Google asked the court for summary judgment (or adjudication). The filing is perhaps best as a marking post of how much the online publishing world has changed–and its fundamental business models have not–in the 8 years since Google started scanning books in libraries. Google’s motion includes an extensive list of what they call “uncontested […]
Archives for July 2012
People, Etc.: Atria Partners With Short Books on Marble Arch Press
In its first international co-publishing agreement, Atria will publish approximately 12 titles annually in print and digital formats from UK publisher Short Books’ list under the banner Marble Arch Press. The fall list will launch with The J M Barrie Ladies’ Swimming Society by Barbara J Zitwer, The House on Paradise Street by Sofka Zinovieff, and For the Love of Letters by John O’Connell. Atria executive vp and publisher Judith Curr said in the announcement: “Even as digital distribution and marketing take on ever-greater importance in our industry, quality content remains the driving force in successful publishing. The Short Books […]
At Kepler’s Conference, Participants Pledge to Raise More Capital
Ron Charles at the Washington Post filed three blog reports from the weekend’s gathering of approximately 80 “publishers, philanthropists, entrepreneurs and authors,” designed to help envision the new Kepler’s bookstore and plot the role of a community bookstore going forward. Perhaps most importantly, though, “members of this conference pledged to raise another $250,000” for the store, on top of approximately $750,000 that has already been raised from almost 700 people. As Charles wrote, the event really “isn’t meant to produce a revelatory business plan. It’s meant to make the participants feel personally committed to helping the struggling indie bookstore in […]
People: Jones Takes Over at Bookseller
At the UK’s The Bookseller, deputy editor Philip Jones has been promoted to be editor, taking over from editor-in-chief Neill Denny who “is leaving to follow new opportunities but will remain an integral part” of the magazine’s editorial team, including writing a new column starting in September. To file under “etc.” or enews, Weinstein Books has a promotional twist for an ebook giveaway. Their ebook of You Changed My Life: A Memoir, by Abdel Sellou, the man whose life story is the basis of the Weinstein movie The Intouchables, is available free between July 27 and August 3. Moviegoers will receive a […]
Penguin Results Decline In First Half, With Profits Cut In Half
Penguin’s parent company Pearson reported results for the first half of the year on Friday morning, with Penguin the only unit that declined in the period. Sales of £441 million were down £16 million from a year ago (4%), and operating profit suffered more, at £22 million down from £42 million a year ago. The company cited three factors in their performance: “A lighter publishing schedule, the exceptional performance of competitor bestsellers The Hunger Games and Fifty Shades of Grey and continued pressure on physical book publishing and retailing.” As evidence of that lighter schedule, Penguin US had 132 bestsellers […]
Amazon Reports Groundhog Day Earnings: Sales Grow 29 Percent, Profits Fall to Almost Nothing
Amazon reported second quarter earnings after the close of the market Tuesday, and once again stuck to a script that has prevailed for a string of previous earnings reports: growing sales while producing very little income. The company reported revenues of $12.83 billion (up 29 percent, and taking into account unfavorable foreign exchanges that cost them $272 million in sales) and net income of just $7 million, down a big 96 percent (from $191 million) compared to a year ago. Some of the hit in profits came from a one-time estimated net loss of $65 million related to its acquisition of […]