In a masterpiece of confusion and contradiction from FT chief business commentator John Gapper, Andrew “The Jackalope” Wylie commentates: “Publishers have overpaid for the front-list to increase revenues without an eye to margins and profits. If they get it wrong again, they will only increase the book industry’s malady.” But “despite his Odyssey deal,” Wylie assures Gapper “he does not want…e-book rights to be split from print rights by authors and agents.” Also from our Can You Believe He Said That Department, Amazon executive Steve Kessel tells The Bookseller, “We are not out there contacting agents. [Except for the ones […]
eNews
New Kindle Slims Are Everything iPad Isn’t
Last night Amazon announced two new models of their Kindle ereader available for pre-order for delivery starting August 27, and with a new wi-fi only model to sell for a low, low $139 they are continuing to press the price competition as well. Still able to attract high-profile press from all over, Amazon ceo Jeff Bezos trumpets the less expensive model as a “mass market device,” even as it follows the $149 wi-fi Nook and Borders/Kobo $149 plus $20 gift card reader. Amazon’s new wireless model will still sell for $189.) With the current model out of stock and not […]
…And the UK Gets a Native Kindle and eBookstore
At the same time that Amazon releases two new models of the Kindle ereader on August 27, the company will launch the machines in the UK, available for the first time for direct sale from Amazon UK in British sterling. Previously, UK customers could buy Kindles priced in dollars from Amazon’s US site, incurring shipping charges and other fees. That said, UK customers will still pay comparatively more for their devices based on current exchange rates, with the wireless Kindle priced at 149 pounds (roughly 230 dollars) and the new wi-fi only version selling for 109 pounds (or about 170 […]
New Copyright Exceptions Open the Door Somewhat on Text-to-Speech
The Librarian of Congress published six new exemptions to prohibitions under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that allow the relaxation of digital access in certain circumstances. Most general media is focused on the aspects that let iPhone owners legally overcome some of Apple’s strict rules, but the sixth and final change applies to ebooks and text-to-speech functionality. While TTS still ranks as one of the most overblown issues in the eBook Era, the new rule will certainly attract interest and may lead to some strategic changes. The published text now exempts: “Literary works distributed in ebook format when all existing […]
Good, Evil and Jack-All
While the UK media is stuck in their cliched mode of writing about Andrew Wylie’s Jackalicious adventures–today’s Independent offers up three stories all amounting to little–some trade wag is having a lot of fun. Under the Twitter handle “EvilWylie” have come a string of zingers starting last Friday afternoon with “All your contracts are belong to me! muah ha ha ha ha.” New followers are rewarded with exclusive rights grants (“Evil Wylie has granted you exclusive rights to write like @margaretatwood writing like Stephen King”) there are numerous special offers: “Sizzling summer deals! Evil Wylie just posted e-book rights to […]
Stieg Larsson Is Founding Member of Amazon “Kindle Million Club”
Amazon announced this morning that the late Larsson “has become the first author to sell over 1 million Kindle books.” In his honor they are starting an official “Kindle Million Club” and he is the first card-holding member. (Insert tasteless joke about what happens in the clubhouse here.)Release