[fjtorres]

Actually, humor aside (which is lost on format fanatics), I can see exclusive catalogs at some point becoming like patent portfolios; subject to cross-licensing as a way to (legally) squeeze out the generics.

For now and the near term it is (almost) meaningless; nobody has a big enough portfolio of exclusives to matter and none of the exclusives matter enough to sway buyers. It is more of a "show-the-flag" move on Kobo's behalf; a statement that they intend to be a top tier player and will match the big (market share) boys move for move.

Down the road once big-name writers' contracts start expiring and they can bring along their backlists, we *might* see *some* meaningful exclusives if the traditional publishers don't learn how to shed overhead. But even that is a ways off.