Quote:
Originally Posted by bgalbrecht
But we know that their first decision, the day after the will was sealed, was to cancel the mass market paperback, and nearly double the cost of the cheapest paper edition in print.
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Not quite.
http://www.amazon.com/Kill-Mockingbi...ll+mockingbird
The real world jump went from $5.89 to $$8.92.
So it's closer to a 50% increase for consumers.
Royalties though, did roughly double: typical trade paperback royalties run 12-15% of list (say, $1.80 per copy) versus 8-9% for mass market (about $0.90 per copy).
Now, we know pbook sales in all forms have been declining since at least the turn of the century and it may be that this so beloved book isn't selling as well as it used to. Maybe schools today don't consider it quite as topical and compelling as it was a half century ago. Times change.
And maybe...
Maybe after taxes, agents fees, estate taxes, investors taxes, medical bills, etc... Maybe they really *need* the money.
Again: without knowing where the money is going (and who made the call) we have no way to pass valid judgment on the non-legal aspects. The legal aspects are totally clear: those with the right to choose chose. End of legal story.
The rest? Internet handwringing.