Judge Denny Chin postponed the key dates for the settlement agreement in the Google Book Search case by fourth months. The deadline to opt-out of the settlement entirely is extended to September 4, as is the deadline for objections and amicus briefs. The fairness hearing will be held on October 7. A new party has entered the scene as well. Yesterday a group of academic authors represented by Pamela Samuelson at the Berkeley School of Law had requested a six-month extension of the deadlines.
Book Fairs: Musicians for BEA, No More CBE
Thursday night’s opening events at this year’s BEA will include a session at the end of the day in the Special Events hall featuring Chuck Klosterman interviewing musicians-turned-authors Steven Tyler and Clarence Clemmons. Separately, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association board decided that they will not hold another Christian Book Expo after an underwhelming inaugural show this year in Dallas. And members are being asked to make voluntary contributions to help fill a $250,000 shortfall left from the March event.Christian Retailing
Amazon's Next Purchase: Stanza
Amazon has bought Lexcyle, makers of the Stanza reader application, for an undisclosed price. Stanza has been downloaded by approximately 1.8 million users. Lexcycle says on its web site, “We are not planning any changes in the Stanza application or user experience as a result of the acquisition. Customers will still be able to browse, buy, and read ebooks from our many content partners.” But of course it’s now up to what Amazon plans. When launching their iPhone app for Kindle, Amazon made it clear that they find the iPhone an inferior platform for long-form immersive reading, but fine as […]
People
Kirsten Neuhaus has started her own agency, Kirsten Neuhaus Literary. She was most recently an agent and foreign rights manager at Vigliano Associates. Following the elimination of the Collins division in the US, now its predecessor in the UK is also being demoted. Harper UK will merge Collins with their Harper Non-fiction books, consolidated under managing director Belinda Budge. Collins publishing director Denise Bates will leave Harper UK in July, and Collins’ head Katie Fulford returns to her previous role as special projects director. Ebury senior publishing director Hannah MacDonald will move over in July to run the Collins imprint, […]
GBS Settlement Parties Request Delay
The plaintiffs and Google have filed a motion asking the judge to postpone the May 5 deadline for opting out of the proposed Google Book Search settlement agreement for two months, saying they “believe [it] would benefit the class by allowing it more time to consider its right and options.” The parties took this action after a group acting on behalf of some authors–including representatives of the Steinbeck and Philip K. Dick estates–wrote to Judge Denny Chin and filed a motion of their own on Friday asking for a four-month postponement. But the litigants say in their letter that they […]
BN Finally Launches a Competitor to Audible
Barnes & Noble.com has launched an online mp3 audiobook, offering over 10,000 titles at an “average price” of $10 to $20 per download. A launch promotion offers nine free titles, including: The Babysitter’s Code by Laura Lippman, Great Day by Kurt Vonnegut, Super Goat Man by Jonathan Lethem, Best New Horror by Joe Hill, Fathers by Alice Munro, Truth or Dare by Elizabeth Berg, Ysrael by Junot Diaz, and Merrano of the Dry Country by Louis L’Amore. EVP of e-commerce Tom Burke calls it “a natural progression in our commitment to book lovers and audiobook fans.” Overdrive is maintaining and […]