Amazon’s request that Judge Denny Chin withdraws his preliminary approval for the revised Google Settlement case in New York has been unsurprisingly rejected. Judge Chin ruled on the request yesterday and the case will now move on to a fairness hearing on February 18th. Judge Chin underlined his belief that argument against the agreement would…
Google Settlement Given Court’s Preliminary Approval
Judge Denny Chin has granted the US District Court’s preliminary approval of the revised Google Settlement. The next stage will be a final hearing on 18th February 2010, which will examine the terms of the agreement and make a ruling on its full approval. The opt-out/opt-in and final objections deadline will be 28th January. November,…
Harlequin Launch Digital Publisher Carina Press
Harlequin, one of the world’s leading romance and women’s fiction publishers has just launched Carina Press, a digital-only imprint that will trade independently of its parent publisher. First e-book titles are expected from Carina Press in Spring 2010. Initially, carina Press will focus the romance and erotica genres. They will not be adopting the traditional…
Google Book Settlement – When Fairness Becomes Status
As widely expected Judge Denny Chin has acceded to the request of the plaintiffs in the Google Book Settlement case and agreed to put back the date for the Fairness Hearing scheduled for October 7th. However, in its place, Judge Denny Chin will instead preside over what is now being declared as a ‘status conference’ on the same date.…
Are Amazon Overstepping their Mark with New SITB Policy? – GalleyCat Report
There is an interesting report today over on GalleyCat which says they have seen a copy of an email sent out by a book distributor to its publishing clients informing them of a change in Amazon’s policy on their Search Inside the Book (SITB) program. The new policy will require publishers to participate in SITB…
Google Will Allow Access & Resale To Retailers of Digital Database
Like a heavy weight boxer in the ring taking a few well-targeted blows to the head, Google continues to defend its position and the strengths of the Google Books Settlement, while at the same time clarifying detailed points and casting out its own interpretation and concessions to the gathered crowds. Yesterday, at the US congressional…
Quartet Press Concede ‘financial structure flawed’
Kat Meyer has spoken in an article late yesterday with Calvin Reid of Publishers Weekly and shed more light on the sudden closure of new digital publishing venture, Quartet Press. Meyer, one of the founders of Quartet Press, conceded that the financial structure of the business was flawed and ultimately would not work, and rather…
Quartet Press Close Before The Door Opens
Early last month we took a look at one of the most exciting and audacious new independent press ventures in digital publishing with our feature on Quartet Press. I think it is quite some time that a new independent press was greeted with such interest and general enthusiasm. Sadly, this within the last few hours……
Long Nights in Frisco For Judge Chin in Google Settlement
The deadline has passed for objections in the Google Books Settlement to be lodged with the US Fedral District Court in San Francisco. By the volume of objections submitted up to yesterday, it looks like Judge Denny Chin may have some long nights sifting through this legal minefield between now and September 18th, when the…
PODTV – Program 10: London Book Fair 2009 – Digital Book Publishing Discussion
For our tenth program in PODTV we return to a news item we covered in April. Hosted by the BBC Media Correspondent, Torin Douglas and a panel of Gail Rebuck, Chairman and CEO, The Random House Group Limited. Tim Hely-Hutchinson, Hachette. John Makinson, Chairman and Chief Executive , The Penguin Group. Victoria Barnsley, Publisher and…