Upset about Canadian Author - Only in US?

ccowie · 10-14-2009, 04:55 PM

Today I went on the Sony site because I want to purchase the new Margaret Atwood book The Year of the Flood.

I literally live about one hour from where she lives in Toronto. So, I'm a little frustrated because I see the little notation indicating that I can only purchase this ebook if I live in the US.

Does anyone else find this a little rediculous?

wallcraft · 10-14-2009, 05:11 PM

This is also available from the UK publishers, e.g. from WHSmith, and they might have the Canadian rights. Unfortunately, WHSmith (like most UK ebook sites) don't list regional restrictions until you try to checkout. The UK version is also much more expensive. That might change when the Kindle's start arriving in the UK and other ebook stores have to compete on bestseller prices.

sianon · 10-14-2009, 05:16 PM

I have found the same ridiculous situation here with Australian authors not being available for purchase here in Australia. Worse still and Australian e-book seller where the books are not are not available for sale here.

AnemicOak · 10-14-2009, 05:33 PM

Her Canadian publisher's site lists her book as available in ebook with a list price of $32.99 Canadian. Perhaps email them and ask where the ebook is available?

http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/di...=9780771008450

EDIT: Just checked Shortcover's, since their Canadian (owned by Indigo) and they don't have it as a "Canadian" ebook either. You'd think if the Canadian pub put it out as an eBook a Canadian eBook retailer would have it.

kenmark · 10-14-2009, 05:42 PM

There has been some previous discussion on this thread.

neilmarr · 10-15-2009, 03:31 AM

Even if some store kindly allows you to actually buy it, the ebook price on the latest Atwood is just plain daft everywhere I've been. And I'm well past the point of no return now with my reader and will not opt for the cheaper hardback version. I'll wait until the ebook price drops ... by which time, of course, I'll probably have forgotten that I ever wanted this book -- clang: no sale. N

ccowie · 10-15-2009, 08:30 AM

The price originally was rediculous. However, it's now $10 at the Sony store, which is what it should be - reasonable.

kennyc · 10-15-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenmark

There has been some previous discussion on this thread.

+++ this whole geographic restriction thing is ridiculous.

GeoffC · 10-15-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

+++ this whole geographic restriction thing is ridiculous.

Amen bro .......

AnemicOak · 10-15-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

+++ this whole geographic restriction thing is ridiculous.

Agreed, but there's no easy solution.

GeoffC · 10-15-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Agreed, but there's no easy solution.

Yes there is ..... get the publishers to drop it - it rarely crops up with paper versions of the same book ......

kennyc · 10-15-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Agreed, but there's no easy solution.

Of course there is as Geoff says above. The problem appears to be where the sell is defined to take place. The core appears to be even a bit deeper than that and comes from copyright law and assignment of copyrights -- e.g. North American publication rights or All Rights in the United states, that sort of thing as opposed to "World Rights"

What has happened over the years is that copyright assignments have been carved out smaller and smaller in many cases so that the creator of the work retains as many rights as possible. So that can well the rights to an American Publisher separate from a U.K. Publisher etc. And now with ebook sales taking place and defining the sell as "at the user's computer" rather than "at the seller's location" (probably due to taxing) it has all gone to H#ll!

AnemicOak · 10-15-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Yes there is ..... get the publishers to drop it - it rarely crops up with paper versions of the same book ......

Why didn't I think of that?

If only it were that easy.

kennyc · 10-15-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Why didn't I think of that?

If only it were that easy.

well, yeah, once the corporations, lawyers, and governments get involved....

GeoffC · 10-15-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Why didn't I think of that?

If only it were that easy.

'ang on squire - i never said it would be easy (at least not for us users, but it should be as easy as making live chicken pie with squirrels for publishers ...... )

But if the puiblishers are really keen about our business (i.e. hard-earned CASH) then they should remove said incomprehensible restriction [and drm whilst they are at it].

10-14-2009, 04:55 PM	#1
ccowie Hiding with an ereader Posts: 391 Karma: 3987376 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony PRS 950, Ipad 2, PRS 350	Upset about Canadian Author - Only in US? Today I went on the Sony site because I want to purchase the new Margaret Atwood book The Year of the Flood. I literally live about one hour from where she lives in Toronto. So, I'm a little frustrated because I see the little notation indicating that I can only purchase this ebook if I live in the US. Does anyone else find this a little rediculous?

10-14-2009, 05:33 PM	#4
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Her Canadian publisher's site lists her book as available in ebook with a list price of $32.99 Canadian. Perhaps email them and ask where the ebook is available? http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/di...=9780771008450 EDIT: Just checked Shortcover's, since their Canadian (owned by Indigo) and they don't have it as a "Canadian" ebook either. You'd think if the Canadian pub put it out as an eBook a Canadian eBook retailer would have it. Last edited by AnemicOak; 10-14-2009 at 05:40 PM.

10-15-2009, 03:31 AM	#6
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Even if some store kindly allows you to actually buy it, the ebook price on the latest Atwood is just plain daft everywhere I've been. And I'm well past the point of no return now with my reader and will not opt for the cheaper hardback version. I'll wait until the ebook price drops ... by which time, of course, I'll probably have forgotten that I ever wanted this book -- clang: no sale. N Last edited by neilmarr; 10-15-2009 at 03:34 AM.

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10-14-2009, 05:11 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	This is also available from the UK publishers, e.g. from WHSmith, and they might have the Canadian rights. Unfortunately, WHSmith (like most UK ebook sites) don't list regional restrictions until you try to checkout. The UK version is also much more expensive. That might change when the Kindle's start arriving in the UK and other ebook stores have to compete on bestseller prices.

10-14-2009, 05:16 PM	#3
sianon Addict Posts: 352 Karma: 572 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne Device: Sony 500, Bebook, Kindle, Eco reader Drs and soon the Archos 9	I have found the same ridiculous situation here with Australian authors not being available for purchase here in Australia. Worse still and Australian e-book seller where the books are not are not available for sale here.

10-14-2009, 05:42 PM	#5
kenmark Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 250000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Great White North Device: PRS-505	There has been some previous discussion on this thread.

10-15-2009, 08:30 AM	#7
ccowie Hiding with an ereader Posts: 391 Karma: 3987376 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony PRS 950, Ipad 2, PRS 350	The price originally was rediculous. However, it's now $10 at the Sony store, which is what it should be - reasonable.

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