With the European Commission looking to flex some regulatory muscle over American-based technology giants including Apple, Google and Amazon, at least one source reported to Reuters on Tuesday that “Amazon is in talks to settle the e-book case” under investigation by the EC “but it is too early to say whether it will reach an agreement.” At about the same time, Bloomberg ran a story citing “people familiar with the case” saying that Amazon is in settlement talks with European regulators. The European Commission brought “a formal antitrust investigation into certain business practices by Amazon in the distribution of electronic books” in June […]
Legal
Congressman Sues Simon & Schuster Over Allegations in “Murder in The Bayou”
Congressman Charles Boustany of Lafayette, LA, currently running for the Senate, filed a defamation suit in a Lafayette District Court against Simon & Schuster and Ethan Brown, author of Murder In the Bayou. Published in mid-September and investigating the deaths of eight Louisiana women, the book cites multiple unidentified sources who suggest that Congressman Boustany was involved with prostitutes who were murdered (but does not accuse him of any involvement in the killings). Boustany’s campaign denied the allegations and denounced the book in early September, when a campaign spokesman said in a statement, “These allegations are completely false and don’t even deserve a response.” […]
Briefs: Pedroza Collects In Fifty Shades Settlement, Amazon Boston, and More
Jennifer Pedroza will finally collect from her former Writers’ Coffee Shop partner Amanda Hayward, in a confidential settlement. Hayward is dropping her appeal of the Texas District Court judgment that gave Pedroza a $10.6 million award, along with $900,000 in interest and $1.7 million in attorney’s fees. The final payment does include at least $1.6 million from Random House that was being held by the court. Hayward had been ordered to put $10 million in escrow in 2015 though it was never clear whether she had the cash to fulfill the court’s order. Royalties from Random House were to be channeled to the escrow account to […]
Hachette Sues Seth Grahame-Smith to Recover Advance On Late, Unacceptable Manuscript
Hachette Book Group is suing Seth Grahame-Smith, author of the bestselling novels Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice & Zombies, and his company Baby Gorilla Inc. for breach of contract. In the complaint, filed in New York federal court on August 26 and first reported on by the Hollywood Reporter, HBG alleges Smith turned in an unacceptable manuscript last June more than 3 years after its initial due date — and only after the publisher moved to terminate the contract. Just before Grand Central published Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, in December 2010 they signed with Smith for two additional […]
Briefs: Bissonnette to Forfeit All “No Easy Day” Royalties; Amazon May Plan Drive-Up Grocery Stores
Former Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette formally settled the case brought against him by the Federal government for failing to obtain pre-publication review and clearance for his bestselling book No Easy Day. He will disgorge all royalties for the book, or about $6.6 million, and has apologized for his actions. (As early as November 2014 Bissonnette said he had negotiated terms with the government that would have him forfeit his royalties.) “I acknowledge my mistake and have paid a stiff price, both personally and financially, for that error,” Bissonnette said. “I accept responsibility for failing to submit the book for review and apologize […]
Customers Will Finally Start Collecting On $400 Million in Consumer eBook Credits This Week
As we reported earlier this month, consumers who are eligible to receive part of the $400 million in compensation as part of Apple’s ebook antitrust settlement with the state attorneys general and the consumer class will be disbursed beginning on Tuesday. Consumers who have accounts at the major book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple will receive a $6.93 credit for every ebook which was a New York Times bestseller, and a $1.57 credit for other purchased ebooks. (Consumers who opted to get their credits as checks will be sent those checks imminently.) Retailers will issue emails […]