Quote:
Originally Posted by Mortis
Why is it that every time Amazon pulls a book off of their own shelves, for what ever reason Amazon as a company decides, does this forum go into "Censorship" threat level 5?
How does what Amazon decides to sell in its store censorship?
Would all these people be upset if their corner book store doesn't sell that book?
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The difference between Amazon and the corner bookstore is the power each can and does exert in the marketplace. An ebook not being sold by Amazon can be a funeral for that book and author (if we accept Amazon's claims of controlling 70%+ of the ebook market), whereas rejection by the corner bookstore essentially has no effect on the book or the author.
Again, it isn't that . . .
- Amazon doesn't have the right to decide what it wants to sell/not sell
it is that . . .
- because of Amazon's dominance in the ebook marketplace, it should provide authors and publishers with clear guidelines of what is acceptable beforehand
and that . . .
- when exercising its rights after accepting a book for sale on its site, that it provide clear guidance to the author of exactly how the book suddenly violates Amazon's guidelines when it did not violate the guidelines at time of acceptance.
In addition, there is the question of whether Amazon has the right (or if it has the right whether there is a moral obligation involved) to agree to terms of a contract with an author, accept the author's book for sale on its site, and then weeks later unilaterally change the terms of the contract and declare the author in violation of the new, unilaterally imposed terms.