Press Release: As of today, the German chain of Bookstores OSIANDER, based in the southern part of Germany and one of the leading booksellers in Germany, operating 39 bookstores, offers all its customers the opportunity to publish, promote and sell books (print and ebook) via the self-publishing platform Bookmundo (www.bookmundo.de). As a result of…
Amazon Introduces Prime Reading
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 5, 2016– (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon today introduced Prime Reading, a new reading benefit for U.S. Prime members. Prime members can now enjoy unlimited reading from a rotating selection of books, magazines, comics and more – at no additional cost. Prime Reading joins the growing list of all-you-can-eat benefits for Prime members including unlimited fast,…
Augmented Reality Reveals the Magic Hidden in Book Retail Spaces
Augmented Reality is by no means the newest (technology) kid on the block. Though it seems that we’re only now tapping into its true potential – to enable us to connect in a more immersive way with the world, brands and with each other. New Augmented Reality (AR) businesses are popping up everyday. Blippar for…
The Story of Self-Publishing (Part Two): Follow the Money – Sean Murphy | Guest Post
Earlier this year, NPR featured a podcast roundtable wherein four authors tackled the question: Is Amazon The Reader’s Friend? Generally speaking, the debate has been framed in terms of how Amazon is disrupting traditional publishing practices. Technologically speaking, disruption is often the result of innovation and consumers benefit because products or services are streamlined, reimagined or…
German Publishers and Booksellers Association Fears ‘monopolistic’ Amazon
Börsenverein, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, revealed 2014 sales figures for the German book market. The overall market saw a 2.2% fall and a slight increase in e-book sales. The Association’s Managing Director Alexander Skipis cited a significant decline in bestseller titles (down more than 20% on 2013) and growing ‘monopolistic companies like Amazon’. The German book industry’s economic…
New EU VAT Law Hurting Self-Published Authors
This week the Guardian UK highlighted the effects of a new European Union (EU) law which was introduced in January this year across all 28-member states. The law addresses VAT paid on e-books and other digital services (including broadcasting and telecommunications). Up until last year VAT rates on digital services and products were applied according to the VAT rate in the country where the…
Is HarperCollins Set to Take on Amazon?
Business Insider reported yesterday that negotiations between publisher HarperCollins and Amazon are not going well. The big five publisher’s current contract is due to expire soon and it is unclear whether Amazon will continue to sell and promote HarperCollins titles beyond this date. Hachette was involved in a long-running dispute with the online retailer last…
Dutch Book Readers and Authors Awake to Amazon.nl and KDP
Dutch book readers and authors have a couple of new online places to visit this morning. In late September TIPM reported that Amazon was in negotiations with Dutch publishers ahead of a planned launch of Amazon.nl. It’s been no secret that the online retail giant was going to enter the Dutch book market and rumours of Amazon.nl…
The Cuckoo’s Calling | A Carcass or Crown For Rowling?
There is no doubt that the biggest publishing story this summer has been the inadvertent or deliberate disclosure that Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, penned and published a crime novel under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. Ever since The Sunday Times ran an investigative piece on the real author of ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ more than…
Apple Guilty of Collusion with Publishers on e-Book Pricing
Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District Court, New York, yesterday ruled in favour of plaintiffs, The United States Department of Justice (DOJ). In her ruling she found defendant Apple Inc. guilty of colluding with publisher defendants to raise, fix and stablize the retail price of new release and bestselling e-books in violation of the Sherman Antitrust…