Harper Collins UK, which publishes JRR Tolkien, has acquired worldwide electronic rights to the authors work. Six titles are available today for direct download, including The Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, and The Children of Hurin, followed by The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales on May 5, “with further titles later in the year.”Harper UK is selling epub files directly from their site, served by technology partner Overdrive, with files also available Waterstone’s. In the US, the books are available in multiple formats, serving all major devices and platforms. And Harper says that the […]
eNews
Random UK "Enhances" eBooks
Under the Banner of Book and Beyond, Random House UK is launching enhanced ebooks with “a range of additional content such as videos, games, quizzes, photos, author interviews, interactive graphics and the option to listen to or read the text at the start of each chapter.” (In other words, they do not work on current dedicated ereaders, running Adobe Digital Editions, but are fine on computers–but then there are very few ereaders in consumers hands in the UK anyway.) The first ten titles include Nothing to Lose by Lee Child (with a digital graphic novel); The Book Thief by Markus […]
Internet Archive Say GBS Settlement Gives Google Unfair Use of Orphan Works
Among many actual (and potential) objectors to the Google Book Search settlement, the Internet Archive has requested a pre-motion conference with the judge to get permission to intervene in the case. Their letter hits on one of the most contentious issues raised by the settlement, that it essentially gives Google a uniquely-protected monopoly over unclaimed orphan works of uncertain copyright status: “it effectively limits the liability for the identified uses of orphan works of one party alone, Google.” As they note later, anyone else “would not be able to use orphan works broadly without being exposed to claims of infringement…and […]
Bloomsbury UK to Offer Their Own Online Library
While much of the industry is transfixed by the looming court decision on the Google Book Search settlement (and the complexities thereof), Bloomsbury UK is moving forward with a electronic lending library of its own. Working with Exact Editions and launching on May 5, the Bloomsbury Library Online will “allow readers to read collections of bestselling books at local library terminals or with the use of a library card on home computers and internet enabled devices.” The publisher is selling the service as an annual subscription to libraries, priced according to the “size of population served.” Bloomsbury Executive Director Richard […]
People and Announcements: Harriot, Howard Books, Pimsleur, Publishing Technology and B&T Digital
Michael Harriot has joined Sanford J. Greenburger Associates as an agent. He was at Vigliano Associates for the past nine years, representing his own clients as well as co-agenting deals with David Vigliano. At Simon & Schuster Children’s Sy Sumg has joined the subsidiary rights group as assistant manager. Simon & Schuster’s Howard Books will relocate from W. Monroe, Louisiana to Nashville, TN, the “epicenter of Christian publishing,” on May 1. The relaunch of the web site for S&S’s Pimsleur audio offers free half-hour lessons and a test of other “digital premiums.” The unit is also adding instruction in Dari […]
BookTour Raises Money; Backers Include Amazon
BookTour.com, which has been privately funded by founder Chris Anderson, has raised $350,000 in Series A funding. According to the regulatory filing, backers include Amazon.com.