TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home

Archive for the ‘France’ Category

By Paul Biba

The previous law was declared unconstitutional by the French courts, so here’s another try. According to the new law, after a third warning the “offender” will be taken before a judge who will make final decision about disconnecting him from the internet, issue a fine of up to 300,000 Euros or impose a jail term. The lack of judicial involvement was what caused the previous law to be struck down. The bill now has to go to the upper house for approval.

Thanks to TorrentFreak for the info.

By Paul Biba

So says the Bookseller today. That’s the Bibliotheque—the French national library—in the picture.

French Prime Minister François Fillon has endorsed the idea that Google might digitise some books and documents of the French National Library. Closing a government seminar on the digital economy last week, he said that "Google is not a problem, but a challenge". Fillon dismissed the recent uproar over reports that the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF) was in negotiations with Google. "It would be shocking if it (the BNF) were not doing so," he declared. …

During a roundtable chaired by Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand, Google France chief Mats Carduner said he had offered to transmit to the BNF and the European digital library Europeana all the out-of-copyright French language books digitised by Google in the United States.

By Paul Biba

Yet another country heard from. This is from Bookseller.com. I went to the SNE’s site but couldn’t find any additional information there.

In a statement released Thursday, the Syndicat National de l’Edition (SNE) said that the accord was inconsistent with the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and other laws governing the sector. The pact discriminates against non-American authors and publishers and “offers no basis for an equitable and balanced partnership,” the SNE said.

The SNE, which claims to represent 53 French publishers and 80% of the country’s book market, welcomed the French and German governments’ intention to notify the US judge of their opposition to the agreement.

By Paul Biba

Received an email from Clement Monjou:

I’ve got some interesting news about the upcoming Sony Reader product line and when they are going to be available on the french market. Sony announced today that the Sony Reader Touch Edition will be available in France in November 09 for 299€, only in black and red. The Sony Reader Pocket Edition will not be released in France but the PRS-505 will stay available. So French consumers will be able to buy the following products :

- Sony PRS-505 Silver 230€
- Sony PRS-600 Black 300€
- Sony PRS-600 Red 300€

I wrote two articles about this news.

http://www.ebouquin.fr/2009/08/28/exclu-le-sony-reader-touch-edition-en-france-en-novembre/

http://www.ebouquin.fr/2009/08/28/exclu-pas-de-pocket-edition-mais-le-prs-505-reste-en-france/

Best regards,

Clément Monjou

—————————————————–

Rédacteur en chef de Ebouquin.fr

http://www.ebouquin.fr

contact@ebouquin.fr

By Paul Biba

I received the following email from Clement Monjou, Editor in Chief of Ebouquin in France:

Hi,

I read Teleread everyday. Thank you for all the work you do for fans of ebooks. I’m the chief editor of the first french ebook dedicated website. I was able to take a look at the new Bookeen device, the Cybook Opus. It has been shown for the first time last night in Paris. Take a look at my pictures and my article. Follow this link. http://www.ebouquin.fr/2009/07/05/nouveaute-presentation-complete-du-cybook-opus/

I have got some HD videos to come. Stay tuned !

Best regards,

Clément Monjou

Rédacteur en chef de Ebouquin.fr
http://www.ebouquin.fr
contact@ebouquin.fr

The above picture is from Clement’s site. He has many more excellent pictures. This is an exciting machine – I want one!

Related: Google news roundup with Opus-related links.

And speaking of Bookeen and its e-readers: See MobileRead discussion of firmware updates.

(Moved closer to top of blog, after earlier posting. – D.R.)

By Paul Biba

Received the following email from Nicolas Gary, Directeur de la rédaction, ActuaLitté. The links below are all in French:

Happy to see Teleread is going on very well. You still a master piece for informations.

http://www.actualitte.com/actualite/10704-Veolia-transport-SFR-Nice-Cauwelaert.htm

By Paul Biba

Received the following email from Nicolas Gary:

I’m director of ActuaLitte.com. Few days ago, the minister Christine Albanel received a report about the price of ebook, written by Hervé Gaymard. He suggests that ebook price in France should be 30 % under the p-book’s price.

So nice, don’t you Think ?

The report is here. Any of our readers want to attempt a translation or synopsis?