After the Appeals Court denied Apple’s motion for a stay of the ebook damages trial, Judge Denise Cote requested that Apple and the plaintiff states come up with a new schedule that would allow consumers enough time to be notified of the pending litigation (and whether they wish to opt out). The plaintiffs had indicated previously that Apple’s temporary stay and Appeals Court hearing rendered the scheduled July 14 trial date unworkable, but this is the first time the court has indicated a possible new date. As of now, the damages trial will be convened on August 25 at the earliest. According […]
People, Etc.
Former Atlantic Books editor-in-chief Ravi Mirchandani will join Pan Macmillan’s Picador as associate publisher on September 1, reporting to publisher Paul Baggaley. Founder and president of 800-CEO-READ Jack Covert retired on May 30, thirty years after he started the business books company. In a note on his blog last week Seth Godin remarked: “Jack Covert is one of the most important people in my little village of book publishing, a single individual outside the normal circles of New York, someone who cares and does something about it. Jack Covert relentlessly sees possibility when other people are ready to shrug their shoulders […]
DOJ Dispatched to Talk to Publishers — As Weapon In Terms Negotiations?
The WSJ reported Monday night that “the Justice Department has gone back to the publishers asking about any recent pricing discussions they may have had with others in the industry, say people familiar with the situation.” The “inquiries” the paper refers to were “made in recent weeks by letter,” just as at least two publishers are in negotiations with Amazon. The Journal adds, “The significance of the Justice Department’s latest move isn’t clear. The inquiries don’t necessarily mean any legal action is imminent or even likely, a person familiar with the situation said.” But it sure sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? The […]
Bookselling: BN Books Clinton; Changing Hands Opens Phoenix Store; Jeff Kinney To Open Massachusetts Store; and More
In the slow announcements of Hillary Clinton’s Trickle Tour for Hard Choices, Barnes & Noble indicates that their Union Square store in New York City will be the site of her first public appearance on publication day, June 10. Secretary Clinton will sign books beginning at 11, and BN will start distributing wristbands to customers at 8 in the morning. Clinton will also visit their store at The Grove in Los Angeles on June 19. Last Friday Changing Hands opened its Phoenix branch, a 17,227-square foot space that also includes the First Draft bar, the store’s first coffee, wine and […]
Writers Coffee Shop Sued By Former Business Partner Over Share of FIFTY SHADES Proceeds
The complicated publication path of EL James’ FIFTY SHADES trilogy has finally yielded legal action, as James’ first publisher, Australian-based The Writers Coffee Shop owner Amanda Hayward, was sued last week in a Texas state court by her former business partners Jennifer Pedroza and Christa Beebe, for a share of the massive proceeds from the trilogy. According to the 48-page complaint, obtained by Courthouse News, “This is a case about greed and self-dealing by Amanda Hayward in conning her business partner Jenny Pedroza out of her rightful partnership interest in advances and royalties flowing from the New York Times best-selling […]
People, Etc.
On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of NYT reporter and author James Risen, letting stand an Appeals Court ruling that he must testify as to whether former CIA officer James Sterling was the source of leaked, classified information Risen used in his 2006 book STATE OF WAR: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration. (The Court’s decision is in line with the full Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which had declined to hear Risen’s appeal by a 13-to-1 vote.) Risen has said he will go to jail rather than testify. Similarly, Attorney […]