Forthcoming Foreign correspondent for the Guardian Luke Harding’s Collusion: How Russia Helped Trump Win the White House publishes in 10 countries on November 16, with Guardian Faber releasing in the UK and Vintage publishing in the US, as a $16.95 trade paperback. The book focuses the “the gripping inside story” of the dossier compiled by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele in 2016, but promises to add “exclusive new material and key sources from the intelligence community.” It is based on conversations with people close to Steele and draws on a wide range of sources in the US and UK. The book […]
Legal
Court Denies Restraining Order to Block Allan Say’s Children’s Book About James Castle
Earlier this month, the estate of primitive artist James Castle filed suit against author and illustrator (and Caldecott medalist) Allan Say and his publisher Scholastic, seeking a restraining order to block publication of the forthcoming book, SILENT DAYS, SILENT DREAMS. The suit takes issue with 28 of the approximately 150 illustrations in the book, which “are Say’s own depictions of various events in Castle’s life, drawn in a style similar to that of Castle.” Calling them “virtually identical copies of James Castle’s distinctive, singular works,” the suit alleges copyright infringement. Idaho District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled quickly after […]
Corporate: Potter Still Powers Bloomsbury, and More
Bloomsbury reported results for the first six months of their fiscal year, through August 31, as yet another good sales period for Harry Potter titles drove higher sales for the company. Revenues of £72.1 million were up from £62.7 million a year ago. Children’s trade sales rose approximately £7.9 million, to £31.7 million, as Harry Potter revenues rose 40 percent. Adult trade was just below flat at £13 million (down £0.4 million). Despite the sales growth, profit still lags. While better than the same period a year ago, profit before tax was £1.7 million. Release Separately, the court has posted […]
Guinness World Records Sues Scholastic Over Competing Book
Earlier this month Guinness World Records filed suit in a Manhattan Federal Court against Scholastic, over their forthcoming Book of World Records 2018, arguing that it “obviously copies and incorporates the trade dress of Guinness World Records 2018, and infringes on GWR’s copyrights and trade dress rights in its book.” Saying that Scholastic’s cover “is nearly identical” to Guinness’s, they charge that “Scholastic’s publication of its book constitutes willful copyright infringement and unfair competition, and is a transparent attempt to trade on the fame and goodwill associated with Guinness World Record brand books.” Guinness asks the court for injunctions, as […]
Talk Isn’t Cheap, But At Least It’s A Little Easier at Frankfurt This Year
Press conferences, author guests, and planned events notwithstanding, the core of the Frankfurt Book Fair for trade visitors remains rights sales and renewing international relationships. For many people, Frankfurt is also very much about habit and tradition, essentially the same show every year, but with new titles: The same party schedule, the same dinner dates and venues, the same roster of key appointments, the same layout of stands (and unfortunately, the same wealth of smokers when you try to get some air). But there’s one interesting thing that’s different this year, though it may not be obvious: This is the […]
One More Round of eBook Settlement Credits Coming Later This Month
As we suggested in June, the Apple ebook settlement fund of $400 million still had a substantial remainder of unclaimed funds after the primary distribution year expired. Between the Apple funds and the previous publisher settlements, there is still $84 million in consumer compensation credits available. so in early September Judge Denise Cote agreed to another distribution of the remaining funds. Counsel for the consumer class Hagens Berman tells PL that the new round of credits will be issued as of October 18, with the major ebooksellers preparing notifications to send to their customers. So another burst of free money […]