Authors Guild accuses Amazon of “breathtaking” hypocrisy
By Paul Biba
There isn’t much to say here, the post speaks for itself. You can find it here.
September 2, 2009.
Amazon made it official today, filing a brief in the Google case claiming that someone else might gain a monopoly in bookselling. It seems we’re compelled to state the obvious:
Amazon’s hypocrisy is breathtaking. It dominates online bookselling and the fledgling e-book industry. At this moment it’s trying to cement its control of the e-book industry by routinely selling e-books at a loss. It won’t do that forever, of course. Eventually, when enough readers are locked in to its Kindle, everyone in the industry expects Amazon to squeeze publishers and authors. The results could be devastating for the economics of authorship.
Amazon apparently fears that Google could upend its plans. Amazon needn’t worry, really: this agreement is about out-of-print books. Its lock on the online distribution of in-print books, unfortunately, seems secure.
The settlement would make millions of out-of-print books available to readers again, and Google would get no exclusive rights under the agreement. The agreement opens new markets, and that’s a good thing for readers and authors. It offers to make millions upon millions of out-of-print books available for free online viewing at 16,500 public library buildings and more than 4,000 colleges and universities, and that’s a great thing for readers, students and scholars. The public has an overwhelming interest in having this settlement approved.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
Why, Paul, less than three weeks ago you said the settlement “amounts to nothing more than court-licensed theft.”
http://www.teleread.org/2009/08/14/national-writers-union-opposes-google-settlement-i-agree/
You also characterized the very same argument you have given here as ’specious’.
I’m confused.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:15 am
Kate – I believe this is just a link to and a copy of the Authors Guild’s post.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
??? That’s the Authors Guild statement, not mine. I’ll go back and put it in blockquotes to clear up any misunderstanding.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
OK, that was the problem. You did have it formatted so that it looked like your statement.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Pot (Amazon) meet kettle (Google).
Amazon already demands a huge cut when you publish for the Kindle. That, coupled with their other draconian practices just makes me shake my head and laugh when they talk about Google or anyone else. When it comes to pbooks and ebooks, I have no respect for Amazon and their practices.
Please, more competition from Google, Sony, the dog, anyone.