Random House Says Libraries Own Their Ebooks

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

When a library purchases a license from Overdrive, they are entering into a contract with Overdrive. Wouldn't it be Overdrive who can say whether the license is transferable or not?

eP

Random House is saying "No. It's *our* license Overdrive is managing and *we* say its transferable."

Look at it this way: Library X bought licenses through overdrive and kept their receipts. They switch to 3M, show them the receipts, and 3M matches the (inactive) overdrive licenses at zero cost to either the library or 3M because Random House gave the okay to match. Overdrive has no say.

[elemenoP]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Random House is saying "No. It's *our* license Overdrive is managing and *we* say its transferable."

Look at it this way: Library X bought licenses through overdrive and kept their receipts. They switch to 3M, show them the receipts, and 3M matches the (inactive) overdrive licenses at zero cost to either the library or 3M because Random House gave the okay to match. Overdrive has no say.

I see, thank you. Then I say: awesome! Much as I love Overdrive, I worry about them becoming too powerful.

eP

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Then I say: awesome! Much as I love Overdrive, I worry about them becoming too powerful.

eP

That seems to be Random House's thinking.
Of course, the market for library ebook delivery and management services isn't that big, moneywise. Split it up enough and you could end up with nobody making enough money to stay in the business.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

That seems to be Random House's thinking.
Of course, the market for library ebook delivery and management services isn't that big, moneywise. Split it up enough and you could end up with nobody making enough money to stay in the business.

Which is why Overdrive can quadruple their administration fees. Libraries are stuck between a rock and another rock. After spending many thousands of dollars on their ebook inventory they can either continue to cough up the fees or discontinue the service. It would be great if a viable alternative is available. Currently 3M is experiencing start-up pains.

[dkperez]

I"m probably missing it, but if Random House is so positive about libraries, wouldn't they want to make books like James Patterson's "NYPD Red" available through Overdrive? At present it appears to be only in bookstores...

Or maybe "Zoo" or "11th Hour"...


S'nice that they could pay EVERY employee a $5K bonus, though...

[ATimson]

Originally Posted by dkperez

I"m probably missing it, but if Random House is so positive about libraries, wouldn't they want to make books like James Patterson's "NYPD Red" available through Overdrive? At present it appears to be only in bookstores...

Or maybe "Zoo" or "11th Hour"...

NYPD Red and 11th Hour (didn't check Zoo) are published by Little, Brown. They're Hachette, not Random House.

[jbcohen]

Who would buy books from a random penguin or a house penguin or perhaps a buy books in a penguin house after their merger

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Which is why Overdrive can quadruple their administration fees. Libraries are stuck between a rock and another rock. After spending many thousands of dollars on their ebook inventory they can either continue to cough up the fees or discontinue the service. It would be great if a viable alternative is available. Currently 3M is experiencing start-up pains.

Maybe libraries need an open source alternative.