The controversy over alleged misrepresentations in Greg Mortenson’s books is back in the news for a number of reasons. Sunday night 60 Minutes rebroadcast the April episode that first presented the case against Mortenson (and launched Jon Krakauer’s ebook on the topic, THREE CUPS OF DECEIT, without acknowledging that Krakauer’s research and manuscript were driving the investigation). The charity Mortenson founded, the Central Asia Institute, finally made it clear that its legal advice rather than medical counsel which is keeping Mortenson from responding: “Greg Mortenson is recovering from his open-heart surgery and making good progress with cardiac rehabilitation. On advice […]
Saatchi UK Suit Aims At Non-Compete Clauses
Charles Saatchi has brought a lawsuit in London against Phaidon Press, which published his 2009 book My Name is Charles Saatchi and I Am An Artoholic and contracted that year for two additional books. He appears to aim at what many would recognize as standard non-compete language. According to the Telegraph, the suit cites “a section of the agreement [that] prevents him from preparing, editing or licensing any work which forms part of the two books, or which might compete with the titles, for the life of the agreement. A judge is due to decide whether this amounts to an […]
Bookselling: Bartleby’s Books Ruined By Flooding; Erie Bookstore Will Remain Open With New Ownership
Though Hurricane Irene largely spared the New York City area, many places further north have proven to be far less fortunate. In Vermont, which is suffering from some of the worst flooding in the state’s history, Bartelby’s Books was “ruined” by the flooding, owner Lisa Sullivan told Shelf Awareness in an email. The building was flooded but is still standing, and Sullivan said, pending help from FEMA and removing books and other items from the store, “We plan to rebuild as soon as possible.” Sullivan also owns the Book Cellar in Brattleboro, which closed indefinitely after a fire in its […]
Chorion Reportedly Close to Bankruptcy After Two Key Executives Resign
Literary brand management company Chorion, which controls the rights to the estates of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler and other notable crime writers, along with UK children’s properties like Noddy and Mr. Men, may be forced into administration by its lenders after failing to raise funds, according to a report in the Sunday Times. Though the paper indicated that Deloitte has been retained to oversee a potential bankruptcy “as soon as this week,” the Telegraph quotes a “source close to one of the banks” as indicating that several options were being considered. “Administration is not something we are about to push the […]
CIA Demands Extensive Cuts To Former FBI Agent’s 9/11 Book
Former FBI agent Ali H. Soufan’s THE BLACK BANNERS: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against Al Qaeda is scheduled to be published on September 12 by Norton, but the version that will hit the market will be heavily redacted thanks to a number of objections from the CIA. According to the NYT, Soufan’s memoir, written with Daniel Freedman, argues “that the CIA missed a chance to derail the 2001 plot by withholding from the F.B.I. information about two future 9/11 hijackers living in San Diego,” and also offers a firsthand account of the agency’s move towards brutal […]
Google Settles with La Martiniere; Will Launch Google eBooks In France
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 […]