Amazon has confirmed (to both the Bookseller and PW) signing “new long term agreements with Penguin Random House in both the US and the UK,” ratifying that alarmist accounts of a standoff starting from a UK tech blog were, as expected, overblown. The important part is what was not disclosed: any change in fundamental ebook terms of sale now that PRH is no longer constrained by the US consent decree and the EU commitments. PRH says they “don’t discuss any aspect of our customer relationships” in public — and for now, agents we were able to contact had not heard anything […]
eNews
People, Etc.
At Hachette Livre, Pierre Danet has been promoted to group chief digital innovator, reporting to Arnaud Nourry, while continuing to supervise digital projects in France, reporting to Catherine Cussigh. In addition, Eva Dunoyer moves up to innovation project manager. At Sourcebooks, Susan Raasch is being promoted to senior accounts receivable specialist, and Sara Bonnar is being promoted to accounting manager. Due to a US sales restructuring at DK, svp, sales Therese Burke and director of special sales Vicki Korlishin have had their positions eliminated. Burke may be contacted at trez914@gmail.com and Korlishin may be reached at vkorlishin@gmail.com. Head of Bilheimer & Associates (and head of PR for […]
eNews: New Kindle Paperwhite, Oyster’s Lumin
Amazon has refreshed its Kindle Paperwhite device, whose screen now has a 300-pixel-per-inch resolution, a new “Bookerly” font, and a $119 price. The device is available for pre-order and ships on June 30. Oyster has launched Lumin, a new feature designed to improve the quality of the in-app reading experience by automatically adjusting to the natural sunlight outside based on the time of day and the user’s location. The company says that Lumin “gradually filters the blue light from your screen, replacing it with a warm, soft amber light” as the sun sets.
Amazon Changes Kindle Unlimited Payments to Cover Pages Read Rather Than Titles Downloaded
Just a year after launching, Amazon told KDP authors on Monday that as of July they will completely change the payment formula for the monthly pool of funds distributed to authors whose works are borrowed through Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owners Lending Library. Going forward the fund will be “paid out based on the number of pages KU and KOLL customers read” rather than “based on qualified borrows.” Amazon says, “We think this is a solid step forward and better aligns the interests of readers and authors. Our goal, as always, is to build a service that rewards authors for […]
European Commission Investigates Amazon’s eBook MFNs In UK and Germany
The European Commission announced Thursday morning “a formal antitrust investigation into certain business practices by Amazon in the distribution of electronic books. Their focus is “certain clauses included in Amazon’s contracts with publishers. These clauses require publishers to inform Amazon about more favorable or alternative terms offered to Amazon’s competitors and/or offer Amazon similar terms and conditions than to its competitors, or through other means ensure that Amazon is offered terms at least as good as those for its competitors.” The EC’s scrutiny is on the two largest European markets for ebooks, the UK and Germany. The central question is whether Amazon’s most […]
Copyright Office Proposes “Pilot” Test of Rights Registry
The US Copyright Office published an extensive report on Orphan Works and Mass Digitization after extensive research and consultation, providing recommendations as Congress once again considers revision of copyright law. We’ve just begun reviewing the extensive 234-page document, which you can view/download here. The office fundamentally agrees with the Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act that was passed by the Senate in 2008 but never went anywhere in the House of Representatives, saying it “continues to be the most viable legislative solution.” That process provides “a framework in which liability is limited for a user who conducts a good faith diligent search for the copyright owner” […]