I'd say this news is discussion-worthy (
)because it highlights that ebook mainstreaming isn't just squeezing publishers but also agents. And that just as some publishers are reacting to the stress generated by the tech disruption by dipping into the swamp waters of predatory publishing (Hydra and other "fleece the unwary" ventures from traditional publishers), so are some agents reacting by setting themselves up as publishers in all but name or, as in this case, abandoning all pretense to ethics.
I also find interesting (and odd) that HarperCollins tried to license ebook rights instead of pretending their contract already gave them those rights.
It sounds like somebody at HC tried to bypass the agent to convince Lee to allow an ebook edition and that cued her that she wasn't being consulted and this got her comparing notes with the publisher.
There's a (sordid?) story behind this...