Quote:
Originally Posted by SensualPoet
I expect the publisher did not buy electronic rights for them and cannot include them. Daft, I know, but almost certainly the reason.
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Yes, that's the reason, at least in many cases. They license the rights to use the art for promotional and marketing purposes, which is why you see the art in the online listings*--but many of these contracts were written before anyone was thinking seriously about the ebook market. The art director at one publisher told me that they did, in the last year or so, starting including ebook rights with art contracts. But they're not likely to go back and amend old contracts.
It does seem a little like bait and switch to see the cover in the store, but not get it when you buy the book.
*And which is why I can use my covers for the little display you see to the left of this message.