Google has settled its differences with another French publisher, La Martiniere. Perhaps more importantly, they acknowledge that Google eBooks is coming to France. (Now we just need to know when.) The companies will work together to put the publisher’s out-of-print, in-copyright books online, which “effectively ends the legal dispute” between the two. In 2009 a French court ordered Google to pay La Martiniere a small fine for scanning their books without permission. (They sought 15 million euros in damages, and were awarded 300,000 euros.) AFP says Google has now withdrawn their legal appeal–but indicates the company has not settled yet […]
ePublishing Initiatives from Objective Entertainment and Folio
Objective Entertainment is the latest literary agency to launch an e-publishing initiative, forming a separate company, Paperless Publishing, to issue ebook originals. Founded by Objective’s Jarred Weisfeld, Meghan Kilduff has moved over from Objective to serve as publisher and acquisitions manager for the new company. Paperless Publishing is focused on short-form content only, and Weisfeld underscores they do not intend to compete with established major publishers. The new company is looking to acquire short-form works on pop culture, poetry, romance, politics, general nonfiction, and graphic novels. They aim to publish “100 books next year,” and Weisfeld says they “have already […]
People, Etc.: Frey Promises He’s “Done With Books”
A couple of years after publishers decided they were through with James Frey, at the launch party for Booktrack (the company creating soundtracks for books), he promises, “I’m done writing books.” Frey also promises that he did not write the “Pittacus Lore” YA books. “The only books I’ve written are the ones with my names on them, and I’m never writing another book. I have other things to do in life. I’m not bored with it—I’m still going to do television shows and movies and videogames. I just like having other people write books for me, you know?” (When I […]
Bookselling: New Stores in Colorado and Montana; Waterstone’s Will Leave Harrods; and More
New and used bookstore The Written Word will open in Brush, CO on Saturday. Owner Marlene Gippin says the store will offer books at $20 or less – “I’m not making things expensive; I think books should be inexpensive” — as well as free wi-fi and coffee, a children’s area, and a room for local artists to display their pieces. Fort Morgan Times Whitefish Bookstore will open a second location in downtown Kalispell, MO, by October 1. The news comes as the town’s Borders store is in the final stages of shutting down. KAJ18.com Waterstone’s will close its concession stand […]
Coming Attractions: Cheney, Rice, Jobs, King’s Short, and Fall Books
The NYT has broken the embargo on former vice president Dick Cheney‘s memoir IN MY TIME, which is set for release next Tuesday. Though Cheney tells NBC in the first televised interview, which will air next Monday, that “there are going to be heads exploding all over Washington” over the book, it’s hard to see why from the Times’ read. Cheney is Cheney, as he “expresses little regret about many of the most controversial decisions of the Bush administration” and “is often pugnacious in tone.” He thinks former CIA director George Tenet was a quitter, and even though many would […]
Bookselling: Nebraska Book Company Gets Bankruptcy Plan OK; Easons Plans Layoffs and Store Closings; and More
A Delaware bankruptcy court granted approval to the Nebraska Book Company to seek votes from creditors on its reorganization plan, which would give control of the company to holders of more than 95 percent of its 8.625 percent senior subordinated notes and more than 75 percent of its 11 percent discount notes, the Lincoln Journal-Star reports. Secured lenders and noteholders would be paid in full with cash, and so long as equity holders don’t object to the plan, “they would get warrants to purchase 3 percent of the reorganized company’s equity at an enterprise value of $500 million, and 5 […]