As ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) solicits comments on applications for thousands of potential new “generic” domain names (from corporate names like .Bloomberg to regular words like .blog and .search), the AAP has objected to an application made by Amazon’s Luxmbourg subsidiary for the “.book” domain. Nine different companies applied for .book, including Google, a Bowker subsidiary and a company run by Proquest (and former Bowker) executive Annie Callahan. Reportedly, the application fee for the new domains was $185,000. The AAP objects specifically to the Amazon application but not the others, because Amazon said in their application […]
eNews
Direct Publishing: Random Defends Hydra; McGuire Mystery Solved; Lulu Pairs with ASI
Laments over the contractual terms offered by Random House’s digital-only imprint Hydra escalated to Boing Boing, naturally, as Random House digital publishing director Allison Dobson e-mailed the SWFA Wednesday afternoon and invited them to meet with her to discuss their concerns. “While we respect your position, you’ll not be surprised to learn that we strongly disagree with it, and wish you had contacted us before you published your posts,” Dobson writes. She explains: “Hydra offers a different– but potentially lucrative–publishing model for authors: a profit share…. As with every business partnership, there are specific costs associated with bringing a book successfully […]
iBookstore Opens In Japan, Writers Group Objects to Random Digital Contracts, and Other Updates
Apple announced the launch of the iBookstore in Japan Tuesday, including titles from a number of the country’s largest publishers, promising “hundreds of thousands of books available for purchase.” The Kindle store opened there last October, which followed Japanese offerings from Kobo and Google Play. Japan is the 51st country in which the iBookstore operates. In Apple’s release, they also note that the iBooks app has been “downloaded 130 million times worldwide.” Separately, Smashwords noted that the iBookstore’s merchandising feature for self-published titles “Breakout Books” was featured at the top of the UK and Irish iBookstores. The blog details promotional […]
Briefs: Macmillan Library Lending Begins; Scottish Publisher Mainstream To Stop Publishing New Books
As previously announced, Macmillan officially began lending digital books to libraries Friday with 1200 backlist Minotaur Books titles under a pilot program. Macmillan ebooks will be available in the one copy/one user lending model for the earlier of two years or 52 checkouts for $25 each. Scottish publisher Mainstream will cease publishing new titles by the end of 2013 after more than 35 years in business. Titles already under contract and scheduled for publication will proceed as usual through March 2014, with backlist titles to be reissued under a Random House UK-based imprint. The company’s Edinburgh offices will close on […]
eNews: Bug in Amazon’s Latest iOS App Update Erases Users’ Libraries; Free Kindle Book Affiliate Sites Get Crackdown
Amazon has warned users not to download the latest version of its iOS Kindle app because of a bug that deletes existing libraries from your device and can “deregister” the user. The iTunes page now includes a note that says, “There is a known issue with this update. If you are an existing Kindle for iOS user, we recommend you do not install this update at this time.” An Amazon spokesperson told Mashable, “To register, enter your Amazon account e-mail address and password and all your Amazon content will be available in the cloud. We have submitted an update fix […]
AAP October Trade Sales Flat, As eBooks Fall to 17 Percent of Revenues
The AAP released their monthly StatShot report for October 2012, showing flat trade sales overall and a continued falloff in the growth of ebooks–which comprised just 17 percent of all trade revenues in the month. Adult trade sales of $504.6 million were up a slim $3.7 million from a year ago. Adult hardcovers declined 6.4 percent, at $224.6 million, while trade paperbacks were virtually flat at $116.8 million. As in September, eBooks comprised the third-largest segment for adult books, at $103.7 million –a 40.7 percent increase over $73.7 million a year ago. With the seasonal decline, adult ebooks are back […]