In their own bureaucratic way, the Australian government is moving ahead with their examination of whether to lift or amend the copyright law that stipulates that if an Australian publisher issues their own version a book released somewhere else in the world within 30 days of its original publication, import editions are banned for sale. The Productivity Commission is required to issue a report within six months.Government release
Watch Mitchell Kaplan
The owner of Books and Books and co-founder of the Miami International Book Fair Mitchell Kaplan has a nice two-minute interview with Miami New Times as the fair celebrates its 25th anniversary of bringing major authors to Miami.
Kidman and Theron In Ebershoff Adaptation
Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron will star in the fi;m adaptation of David Ebershoff 2000 novel THE DANISH GIRL. Kidman will play artist Einar Wegener, “the world’s first postop male transsexual, with Theron playing Wegener’s artist wife, Gerda.E online
Ackman Believes in Bankruptcy
Hedge fund investor Charles Ackman of Pershing Square Capital Management, whose fund is Borders’ largest shareholder, was the first guest on the Charlie Rose Show last night. Pershing Square has lost many millions to date on their Borders investment, with company’s market cap down to under $170 million. But on the show, Ackman repeatedly endorsed the nation’s “reorganization” procedures, favoring bankruptcy over bailouts for GM and other large institutions. The video won’t be posted online until later today or tomorrow but it’s worth watching. Ackman calmly explains how bankruptcy procedures are designed to heal companies with unhealthy balance sheets and […]
Mailer Estate: The Client Wylie Lost
As an Observer article reports, Andrew Wylie at The Wylie Agency represented Norman Mailer while we he was alive but the estate has selected Mailer’s friend and longtime collaborator Larry Schiller to represent all unpublished material, including the trove of “something like 60,000” letters. J. Michael Lennon, who just signed with S&S for an authorized Mailer biography, has been working on one book compilation of Mailer letters “on and off for about five years.” The Observer suggests that publishing rights to that collection might have been ambiguous under Mailer’s contractual relationship with Mailer: “Though at one point last winter there […]
Another Broad Promotion for Books
Following news of Random House’s efforts to promote book sales this holiday season, MJ Rose announces an initiative via her AuthorBuzz venture that promises to reach “reach over 10 million people” online with banner ads. The campaign proclaims “You can’t buy more enjoyment for less… Give a book” and then promotes a selection of 24 sponsored books. Ads click through to the online bookseller choice of the author or publisher who bought the ads. But bloggers are invited to grab generic (or specific) campaign images to share the message of supporting books as gifts.Rose blog