Has Fictionwise Abandoned Microsoft Lit format?

Mitchll · 09-28-2009, 01:05 PM

For several weeks running the new offerings at FIctionwise contain very few titles in lit format. Have they decided to abandon Lit? They restrict themselves to mobi and ebook formats basically, not even epub.

Anyone have any knowledge of what is going on?

AnemicOak · 09-28-2009, 01:19 PM

They get their LIT's from Lightning Source and it's possible that some publishers aren't using Lightning Source as a distributor anymore. Over Drive seems to be the distributor of choice for a lot of pubs and OD dropped FW a while back. eReader is their format so they obviously carry that and Mobipocket is distributed directly from Mobi (as well as OD). AFAIK OD is the only one distributing epub too. Also some pubs seem to be dropping some formats. Also I've noticed sometimes lit gets added later on some books so maybe the distro isn't getting the info out to FW on time.

If you can find it in lit at Books On Board chances are it's distributed through OD. If ebooks.com has it that's because they are there own distributor.

This is all just guesses based on observation of course. I have no inside knowledge.

ahi · 09-28-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

They get their LIT's from Lightning Source and it's possible that some publishers aren't using Lightning Source as a distributor anymore.

Does that mean that using Lightning Source for eBooks gets automatic distribution via Fictionwise?

- Ahi

AnemicOak · 09-28-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahi

Does that mean that using Lightning Source for eBooks gets automatic distribution via Fictionwise?

- Ahi

I don't know. I just know that when I download a lit from them it comes from a Lightning Source server.

ahi · 09-28-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I don't know. I just know that when I download a lit from them it comes from a Lightning Source server.

That is a fascinating detail, AnemicOak! Thank you kindly!

- Ahi

JSWolf · 09-28-2009, 03:16 PM

I think Fictionwise is going to lose out big time if they don't have DRMed ePub available. Once Sony switches over Fictionwise better get with the program.

ahi · 09-28-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I think Fictionwise is going to lose out big time if they don't have DRMed ePub available. Once Sony switches over Fictionwise better get with the program.

Yeah, but both Fictionwise and Sony will be hurting when Amazon finally switches to multi-display/font-size PDFs... whenever that will be!

- Ahi

AnemicOak · 09-28-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I think Fictionwise is going to lose out big time if they don't have DRMed ePub available. Once Sony switches over Fictionwise better get with the program.

Well the only distributor of DRM'd ePub's (as far as I know) is Over Drive and since Over Drive dropped them it doesn't seem the have a lot of choice right now.

We do know they eventually plan to offer ePub with their own DRM. And yes, I know you think it's a bad idea, but that's what they've mentioned doing.

mazzeltjes · 09-28-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I think Fictionwise is going to lose out big time if they don't have DRMed ePub available. Once Sony switches over Fictionwise better get with the program.

What's so great about DRM'ed Epub ?????????????

How is Fictionwise going to lose out by not having drm'ed books???????

JSWolf · 09-28-2009, 04:05 PM

Simon & Schuster (aka pocketbooks) has stopped with MS Reader format.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazzeltjes

What's so great about DRM'ed Epub ?????????????

How is Fictionwise going to lose out by not having drm'ed books???????

A lot of the people who bye a reader are not going to be able to strip DRM, won't want to bother converting, and so forth. So seriously, when most eBook readers are supporting ePub via ADE, they won't want to be buying from Fictionwise that won't have their preferred format of ePub.

mazzeltjes · 09-28-2009, 04:11 PM

So, why not sell them without drm.
Force the publishers, otherwise they are going to lose for sure.
Let's be honest, with the amount of effort being put into drm removal and conversion software it's only a matter of time before joe average can do it anyway.
And in his "preferred format of ePub" as well.

JSWolf · 09-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Fictionwise does sell their multiformat eBooks in ePub. But the ones with DRM are not sold in ePub. Cyberread has recently added more formats (ePub being one of them) and that's a rather good thing for them.

mazzeltjes · 09-28-2009, 04:30 PM

But the ones with DRM are not sold in ePub.

So what's the next logical step ....???

Let's be honest, with the amount of effort being put into drm removal and conversion software it's only a matter of time before joe average can do it anyway.
And in his "preferred format of ePub" as well.

At least that's the impression I got hanging around MR the last 2 years.

Shaggy · 09-28-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazzeltjes

So, why not sell them without drm.
Force the publishers, otherwise they are going to lose for sure.
Let's be honest, with the amount of effort being put into drm removal and conversion software it's only a matter of time before joe average can do it anyway.
And in his "preferred format of ePub" as well.

That's the trick. "Joe Average" doesn't need to remove DRM, he just needs to download the content from somebody who already has. When Publishers insist on DRM, the only thing they're doing is letting the pirates offer a better product.

DawnFalcon · 09-29-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazzeltjes

But the ones with DRM are not sold in ePub.

So what's the next logical step ....???

For readers, or for the publishers?

These are not the same things, especially with "publisher logic".

09-28-2009, 01:05 PM	#1
Mitchll Cave Dweller Posts: 220 Karma: 1986 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Ipad Sony reader prs-505 prs-900	Has Fictionwise Abandoned Microsoft Lit format? For several weeks running the new offerings at FIctionwise contain very few titles in lit format. Have they decided to abandon Lit? They restrict themselves to mobi and ebook formats basically, not even epub. Anyone have any knowledge of what is going on?

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09-28-2009, 01:19 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	They get their LIT's from Lightning Source and it's possible that some publishers aren't using Lightning Source as a distributor anymore. Over Drive seems to be the distributor of choice for a lot of pubs and OD dropped FW a while back. eReader is their format so they obviously carry that and Mobipocket is distributed directly from Mobi (as well as OD). AFAIK OD is the only one distributing epub too. Also some pubs seem to be dropping some formats. Also I've noticed sometimes lit gets added later on some books so maybe the distro isn't getting the info out to FW on time. If you can find it in lit at Books On Board chances are it's distributed through OD. If ebooks.com has it that's because they are there own distributor. This is all just guesses based on observation of course. I have no inside knowledge.

09-28-2009, 03:16 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,695 Karma: 130140792 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I think Fictionwise is going to lose out big time if they don't have DRMed ePub available. Once Sony switches over Fictionwise better get with the program.

09-28-2009, 04:11 PM	#11
mazzeltjes Addict Posts: 242 Karma: 177 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Amsterdam Device: sony 505	So, why not sell them without drm. Force the publishers, otherwise they are going to lose for sure. Let's be honest, with the amount of effort being put into drm removal and conversion software it's only a matter of time before joe average can do it anyway. And in his "preferred format of ePub" as well.

09-28-2009, 04:13 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,695 Karma: 130140792 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Fictionwise does sell their multiformat eBooks in ePub. But the ones with DRM are not sold in ePub. Cyberread has recently added more formats (ePub being one of them) and that's a rather good thing for them.

09-28-2009, 04:30 PM	#13
mazzeltjes Addict Posts: 242 Karma: 177 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Amsterdam Device: sony 505	But the ones with DRM are not sold in ePub. So what's the next logical step ....??? Let's be honest, with the amount of effort being put into drm removal and conversion software it's only a matter of time before joe average can do it anyway. And in his "preferred format of ePub" as well. At least that's the impression I got hanging around MR the last 2 years.

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