Missing Book Cover

mXb · 06-16-2012, 08:47 AM

Hi,
Recently I downloaded an eBook called J.E.T. by Roy Powers.

When I went to start reading it I noticed that the Book Cover / Book Art was just the book title and the author underneath at the top of a blank page.

I thought at first this was the book cover but now I think my Touch is just displaying the 1st page of the eBook because the book cover is actual missing !

Unfortunately it has DRM attached, and although I've managed to replace the ADE thumbnail image with the proper JET book cover it won't show this on the Touch (I tried deleting it on the Touch and then drag & drop on ADE again without success).

Also I contacted the retailer and they appeared to be saying that it's quite usual for the publisher not to include the "Book Art" in the ePub file !!!??

Sounds like a cop-out to me, has anyone else had an eBook with no cover in the ePub file ?

Cdesja5 · 06-16-2012, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mXb

Hi,
Recently I downloaded an eBook called J.E.T. by Roy Powers.

When I went to start reading it I noticed that the Book Cover / Book Art was just the book title and the author underneath at the top of a blank page.

I thought at first this was the book cover but now I think my Touch is just displaying the 1st page of the eBook because the book cover is actual missing !

Unfortunately it has DRM attached, and although I've managed to replace the ADE thumbnail image with the proper JET book cover it won't show this on the Touch (I tried deleting it on the Touch and then drag & drop on ADE again without success).

Also I contacted the retailer and they appeared to be saying that it's quite usual for the publisher not to include the "Book Art" in the ePub file !!!??

Sounds like a cop-out to me, has anyone else had an eBook with no cover in the ePub file ?

Yes, happens regularly... Sometimes instead of a blank page it's a page with a pattern. That's one of the reasons why I use Calibre to fix mine, I like to see a real cover...

taming · 06-16-2012, 09:24 AM

Yes, frequently. The common wisdom is that the rights for the cover art have not been purchased by the publisher for this use. They own the right to use the art for PR, but not for the digital version of the sold work.

It is one of the reasons people use DRM removal tools.

HarryT · 06-16-2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mXb

Sounds like a cop-out to me, has anyone else had an eBook with no cover in the ePub file ?

Yes, it's extremely common. Apparently the reason for it is that image rights for the book cover are negotiated separately from the rights for the book itself, and many times the publisher does not have the right to publish the cover image electronically.

mXb · 06-18-2012, 10:27 AM

Thanks for the replies, it seems then that the retailer was telling the truth.

This is the first eBook I have encountered with this problem. Other problems yes, but not this.

It seems strange that we can download a Book Cover Art for the eBook either directly, through Google say, or via Calibre (presumably legally ? ), and add it to our ebook !

Following on from that I found on another Forum what is actual inside an ePub file.
I looked inside one and there is a JPEG "Cover" file.
Is legal to change this file for example or is any editting illegal ?

HarryT · 06-18-2012, 10:33 AM

You can change whatever you want - it's your copy of the book.

HarleyB · 06-19-2012, 08:02 AM

Once you get more than a few books with this problem it becomes essential to change the covers IMO as sometimes when the publisher puts just THEIR logo as the book cover (ie Penguin) instead of the helpful but disappointing title and author you can't even tell the books apart!

Danger · 06-19-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyB

Once you get more than a few books with this problem it becomes essential to change the covers IMO as sometimes when the publisher puts just THEIR logo as the book cover (ie Penguin) instead of the helpful but disappointing title and author you can't even tell the books apart!

Yup. One of the main reasons I remove the DRM from my books. Nothing like have a generic green cover with the publisher's logo and maybe the book title. The 2nd is to have a backup other than kepub.

06-16-2012, 08:47 AM	#1
mXb Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 1129952 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK here & there Device: Ex-Kobo Touch-Nook Simple Touch-Kobo Mini-Retina Mini	Missing Book Cover Hi, Recently I downloaded an eBook called J.E.T. by Roy Powers. When I went to start reading it I noticed that the Book Cover / Book Art was just the book title and the author underneath at the top of a blank page. I thought at first this was the book cover but now I think my Touch is just displaying the 1st page of the eBook because the book cover is actual missing ! Unfortunately it has DRM attached, and although I've managed to replace the ADE thumbnail image with the proper JET book cover it won't show this on the Touch (I tried deleting it on the Touch and then drag & drop on ADE again without success). Also I contacted the retailer and they appeared to be saying that it's quite usual for the publisher not to include the "Book Art" in the ePub file !!!?? Sounds like a cop-out to me, has anyone else had an eBook with no cover in the ePub file ?

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06-16-2012, 09:24 AM	#3
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Yes, frequently. The common wisdom is that the rights for the cover art have not been purchased by the publisher for this use. They own the right to use the art for PR, but not for the digital version of the sold work. It is one of the reasons people use DRM removal tools.

06-18-2012, 10:27 AM	#5
mXb Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 1129952 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK here & there Device: Ex-Kobo Touch-Nook Simple Touch-Kobo Mini-Retina Mini	Thanks for the replies, it seems then that the retailer was telling the truth. This is the first eBook I have encountered with this problem. Other problems yes, but not this. It seems strange that we can download a Book Cover Art for the eBook either directly, through Google say, or via Calibre (presumably legally ? ), and add it to our ebook ! Following on from that I found on another Forum what is actual inside an ePub file. I looked inside one and there is a JPEG "Cover" file. Is legal to change this file for example or is any editting illegal ?

06-18-2012, 10:33 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You can change whatever you want - it's your copy of the book.

06-19-2012, 08:02 AM	#7
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	Once you get more than a few books with this problem it becomes essential to change the covers IMO as sometimes when the publisher puts just THEIR logo as the book cover (ie Penguin) instead of the helpful but disappointing title and author you can't even tell the books apart!

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