Following the broad merging of Ingram’s units into a single integrated Content Group, ceo David “Skip” Prichard has named Ingram executive Phil Ollila as chief content officer. He will oversee publisher services, comprising Lightning Source, CoreSource, the marketing group, and their distribution operation, Ingram Publisher Services. Lightning Source president David Taylor will be responsible for all publisher content acquisition activities, and Mark Ouimet becomes general manager of Ingram Publisher Services. Shawn Everson will serve as chief commercial officer, leading their businesses focused on library and retail channels. Rich Rosy will take over the library businesses, including Ingram Library Services, MyiLibrary, […]
Judge Blocks Unauthorized 60 Years Later In Temporary Order
US District Judge Deborah Batts issued a temporary restraining order preventing publication for at least the next 10 days of “JD California” (Frederik Colting’s) book (originally called a sequel to Catcher in the Rye), finding “substantial similarities” to the original novel. She said “I’ll issue a written decision as quickly as I can.” Batts was highly dubious in the initial hearing that Colting’s book offers any protected commentary or parody. “Let me be clear,” she said. “I am having difficulty seeing that it exists” at all. Colting’s attorney Edward Henry Rosenthal “did not dispute that the character is meant to […]
Penguin Launches Online Videos
Penguin Group has launched a mini-site called From the Publisher’s Office that presents promotional videos in four “series” (Tarcher Talks; Penguin Storytime; YA Central; and Project Paranormal); a selection of standing audio “programs”; and online browsing samples from selected books. Most of the content “is created, written, shot, edited and produced by more than 30 Penguin Group executives and department team members who are closest to the content.” Among them, CEO David Shanks composed and performs two songs for Penguin Storytime, where his wife Liz, a former librarian, is hosting and producing a read-aloud program. Shanks tells the AP, “I […]
People and Announcements
Borders continues the tradition of bolstering their executive team with people from outside of publishing. They have hired Arthur Keeney as svp of marketing, starting at the end of June, reporting to Anne Kubek. He was general manager for eight years at Harold Friedman, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based grocery store chain, and previously worked with Borders ceo Ron Marshall at grocer Nash Finch. Among the areas he will oversee is Borders.com, where he will run a search “for a new leader at the vice president level.” Rich Fahle is moving from that role to the new position of vp creative, outreach […]
Bezos Commits to Losing Money On Kindle Editions On Multiple Devices
The NYT reports more remarks from Jeff Bezos at the Wired conference: “The device team has the job of making the most remarkable purpose-built reading device in the world. We are going to give the device team competition. We will make Kindle books, at the same $9.99 price points, available on the iPhone, and other mobile devices and other computing devices.” In other words, he both perpetuates the $9.99 is our top price fallacy, and commits the company to losing money on Kindle files even when it isn’t making money on the device sales. As for why they don’t sell […]
Salinger Defendants Claim "Commentary and Criticism"
Attorneys at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz filed papers on behalf of Fredrik Colting and his distributor asking the court to deny JD Salinger’s request for an injunction blocking publication of 60 YEARS LATER — Coming through the Rye. They claim the book is ” a complex and undeniably transformative exposition” about JD Salinger and “his best known creation Holden Caulfield” that is “protected parody, containing important commentary and criticism.” Now that he has a lawyer, Fredrik Colting has backtracked on how he positions the work, saying that “while my earlier book cover and some promotional material characterized 60 YEARS […]