Penguin seems to have declared war on elibraries - at least for kindles

BeccaPrice · 11-21-2011, 11:48 AM

http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/11/20...-book-lending/

and, alas, in various imprints, they seem to publish some of my favorite authors. Guess I need to find new favorite authors.

LaurieGator · 11-21-2011, 01:37 PM

This has been an ongoing topic all weekend in the Kindle world. It is surprising that there has been NO WORD to why this is going on. I checked my local library (Phoenix) and they don't have Penguin books available in Kindle format but they are still available in ePub, PDF and audio book editions.

Sounds like more of a Penguin/Amazon dispute rather than Penguin declaring war on the libraries since there are other versions of Penguin books available.

BeccaPrice · 11-21-2011, 01:45 PM

Is Penguin punishing Amazon for setting up their own lending library?

abookreader · 11-21-2011, 02:46 PM

I just ran a search on my Overdrive library site for Penguin Publishing and all the ePub and ePDF books remain, only Kindle format is gone.

Looks like another Amazon/Publisher war.

Again. Why is it the readers who always take it in the gut during these things?

tea2 · 11-21-2011, 02:47 PM

I'm in Canada, so no Kindle library lending yet...but my local library still has Penguin epub titles available. Hmmm...this is not going to be good for Penguin...one thing that drives me nuts about penguin ebooks is they always have the default penguin on the front and no
specific covers, so when I have several in my "Now Reading" list, it's penguins all over.

SteveEisenberg · 11-21-2011, 07:08 PM

Citing "Security Concerns" Penguin Pulls New Titles from OverDrive

Quote:

OverDrive said that Penguin sent notice to the company last week that it was “reviewing terms for library lending of their e-books,” and in the interim has instructed the company to “suspend availability of new Penguin e-book titles," and to disable the recently launched “Get for Kindle” program for all Penguin e-books.

So, it's not just a Kindle issue, even though, for now, Kindle is hit hardest.

tubemonkey · 11-21-2011, 07:32 PM

Can't say that this issue really affects me, since I mainly use the library for audiobooks. The ebooks I do read are not must reads, therefore, if some suddenly disappear, there'll always be something else available.

The answer, of course, is a boycott; but few want to play that game.

Blossom · 11-21-2011, 10:13 PM

Oh geez. Looks like my libraries have remove the Kindle version from this publisher too. I am relieved they wont be pulling the epub and pdf versions but there will be no more newer books by Penguin.

tubemonkey · 11-22-2011, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

Oh geez. Looks like my libraries have remove the Kindle version from this publisher too. I am relieved they wont be pulling the epub and pdf versions but there will be no more newer books by Penguin.

Does this mean you're going to boycott Penguin?

Blossom · 11-22-2011, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Does this mean you're going to boycott Penguin?

I don't buy much books from them. I have like 3 on my wishlist at Amazon but that only if they ever discount them. I buy more non agency then anything with some S&S books, Hachette and Avon but I get my agency books from my library. So I will continue to borrow Penguin books from there but the new stuff I'll just do without. If they want to take their toys and go home. Let someone else take their place.

I buy Harlequin, Sourcebooks, Zebra, Brava and indies mostly.

rhadin · 11-22-2011, 05:00 AM

Seems to me that Penguin's action is a reaction to Amazon's unilateral decision to permit Prime members to borrow books. I say this because Penguin didn't remove the ePub versions from Overdrive. Amazon likes to push the limits. Unfortunately, when it goes too far from the perspective of its suppliers, the reaction tends to hurt the consumer more than Amazon.

One other thing to consider. Amazon is establishing itself as a direct competitor to Penguin. In the past, the only issue was Amazon's price-setting policies. Now that Amazon has aggressively entered the publishing business and the competition to sign authors as a publisher, it is an even greater threat to Penguin and the other publishers. I expect that has also played into Penguin's decision. After all, how much should it want to support what is becoming a direct competitor?

tubemonkey · 11-22-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

Seems to me that Penguin's action is a reaction to Amazon's unilateral decision to permit Prime members to borrow books. I say this because Penguin didn't remove the ePub versions from Overdrive. Amazon likes to push the limits. Unfortunately, when it goes too far from the perspective of its suppliers, the reaction tends to hurt the consumer more than Amazon.

One other thing to consider. Amazon is establishing itself as a direct competitor to Penguin. In the past, the only issue was Amazon's price-setting policies. Now that Amazon has aggressively entered the publishing business and the competition to sign authors as a publisher, it is an even greater threat to Penguin and the other publishers. I expect that has also played into Penguin's decision. After all, how much should it want to support what is becoming a direct competitor?

But Penguin did suspend the availability of ALL new titles, both ePub and Kindle alike.

So there's a bit more at play than just Amazon.

DiapDealer · 11-22-2011, 07:51 AM

The existing Penguin epubs remain at the libraries for now. They're claiming that they won't be lending ANY of their NEW titles (epub or Kindle) until their "security concerns" are taken care of. Which doesn't really explain why ALL older Penguin Kindle books have been removed.

It's a frickin' mess.

kkay5 · 11-22-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The existing Penguin epubs remain at the libraries for now. They're claiming that they won't be lending ANY of their NEW titles (epub or Kindle) until their "security concerns" are taken care of. Which doesn't really explain why ALL older Penguin Kindle books have been removed.

It's a frickin' mess.

It sounds like they had to leave at one version of their books because of previous deals so they probably chose to remove the version that would have the most borrowers which is most likely Kindle.

emalvick · 11-22-2011, 11:37 AM

Doesn't a publisher like Penguin make money for every book borrowed from a library? (not Amazon's Prime one, but just your typical library).

I fail to understand the business model that Penguin is running on, one where Kindle Books cost more than DTB's and one where they pull books from libraries to get at Amazon for lending books. It seems childish, and given the connectedness of EBook users, it wouldn't surprise me if they get some backlash via Facebook or Twitter because of it.

11-21-2011, 11:48 AM	#1
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Penguin seems to have declared war on elibraries - at least for kindles http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/11/20...-book-lending/ and, alas, in various imprints, they seem to publish some of my favorite authors. Guess I need to find new favorite authors.

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11-21-2011, 01:37 PM	#2
LaurieGator Crazy Cat Lady Posts: 96 Karma: 13662 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Arizona Device: Kindle 2i, Nook Color (Rooted)	This has been an ongoing topic all weekend in the Kindle world. It is surprising that there has been NO WORD to why this is going on. I checked my local library (Phoenix) and they don't have Penguin books available in Kindle format but they are still available in ePub, PDF and audio book editions. Sounds like more of a Penguin/Amazon dispute rather than Penguin declaring war on the libraries since there are other versions of Penguin books available.

11-21-2011, 01:45 PM	#3
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Is Penguin punishing Amazon for setting up their own lending library?

11-21-2011, 02:46 PM	#4
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	I just ran a search on my Overdrive library site for Penguin Publishing and all the ePub and ePDF books remain, only Kindle format is gone. Looks like another Amazon/Publisher war. Again. Why is it the readers who always take it in the gut during these things?

11-21-2011, 02:47 PM	#5
tea2 Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 864936 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kindle 2, iPad Mini 4, Aura One, Kobo Clara 2e	I'm in Canada, so no Kindle library lending yet...but my local library still has Penguin epub titles available. Hmmm...this is not going to be good for Penguin...one thing that drives me nuts about penguin ebooks is they always have the default penguin on the front and no specific covers, so when I have several in my "Now Reading" list, it's penguins all over.

11-21-2011, 07:32 PM	#7
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Can't say that this issue really affects me, since I mainly use the library for audiobooks. The ebooks I do read are not must reads, therefore, if some suddenly disappear, there'll always be something else available. The answer, of course, is a boycott; but few want to play that game.

11-21-2011, 10:13 PM	#8
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	Oh geez. Looks like my libraries have remove the Kindle version from this publisher too. I am relieved they wont be pulling the epub and pdf versions but there will be no more newer books by Penguin.

11-22-2011, 05:00 AM	#11
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	Seems to me that Penguin's action is a reaction to Amazon's unilateral decision to permit Prime members to borrow books. I say this because Penguin didn't remove the ePub versions from Overdrive. Amazon likes to push the limits. Unfortunately, when it goes too far from the perspective of its suppliers, the reaction tends to hurt the consumer more than Amazon. One other thing to consider. Amazon is establishing itself as a direct competitor to Penguin. In the past, the only issue was Amazon's price-setting policies. Now that Amazon has aggressively entered the publishing business and the competition to sign authors as a publisher, it is an even greater threat to Penguin and the other publishers. I expect that has also played into Penguin's decision. After all, how much should it want to support what is becoming a direct competitor?

11-22-2011, 07:51 AM	#13
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,525 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	The existing Penguin epubs remain at the libraries for now. They're claiming that they won't be lending ANY of their NEW titles (epub or Kindle) until their "security concerns" are taken care of. Which doesn't really explain why ALL older Penguin Kindle books have been removed. It's a frickin' mess.

11-22-2011, 11:37 AM	#15
emalvick Groupie Posts: 166 Karma: 5358 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Davis, CA Device: Kindle 3	Doesn't a publisher like Penguin make money for every book borrowed from a library? (not Amazon's Prime one, but just your typical library). I fail to understand the business model that Penguin is running on, one where Kindle Books cost more than DTB's and one where they pull books from libraries to get at Amazon for lending books. It seems childish, and given the connectedness of EBook users, it wouldn't surprise me if they get some backlash via Facebook or Twitter because of it.

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