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

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But Penguin could then turn around and say to the users "eBooks just don't sell anymore". And we again would lose.

That would be a company out of business before too long.

[SteveEisenberg]

Penguin Restores E-Book Access Amidst Amazon Negotiations

As a result, customers will continue to have access to Penguin titles via the Amazon Kindle library lending program at least until the end of the year, though new titles will not be added.

[greencat]

That seems like a sensible, if temporary, outcome.

[ProfCrash]

My guess, Penguin saw a serious dip in sales when Amazon was added to OVerdrive and is looking for some reason to remove its books from Overdrive.

[DiapDealer]

They still haven't made their "security issues" any clearer (nor explained how removing their older titles—in the Kindle format only—made them somehow feel "better" about those "security issues").

If they want to stop allowing all of their new titles (or all of their older ones) to be available to the Overdrive lending program across the board... fine. That's their call. I don't agree with that either, but at least it would seem more consistent with "having serious security issues" with ebooks in general... rather than the blatant bullshit that it actually was. Because frankly, the idea that their existing titles were somehow more vulnerable (security-wise) in the Kindle format than they were in the ePub format is ludicrous.

You want to pull out of the Overdrive lending program and join the other houses who don't want to play? Fine. Do it. But just do it across the board and don't invent a bunch a CYA hoohah about "security concerns" that can be somehow lessened by denying (only) Kindle users access to all of your current (and older) library titles.

[Anabana]

Does anyone know what Penguin's agreement was with libraries? Did they sell a 'forever' copy or a limited-use copy (ala HarperCollins)?
It really sounds (to me) like they want in on the limited-use.
A theory of not allowing Kindle access because of lost sales doesn't make sense; Amazon stands the same lost sales risk, doesn't it?

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Anabana

A theory of not allowing Kindle access because of lost sales doesn't make sense; Amazon stands the same lost sales risk, doesn't it?

Amazon shares some of the risk, but it isn't the same. Lack of library borrowing was a reason why many people bought competing eReader devices. So while Amazon loses some book sales because of Overdrive, it gains some Kindle sales. And many of those gained Kindle purchasers will eventually put Amazon-purchased books on their devices, further reducing Amazon's exposure.

Also, Amazon is a publisher competing with Penguin.

I just checked one sample book published by Amazon, Barry Eisler's The Detachment. It can be borrowed for free, through Amazon, if you are a Prime subscriber, but that itself costs US$80 per year.

I checked search.overdrive.com, and found that The Detachment, except for audiobooks, is unavailable through Overdrive. Has Amazon Publishing made any of their titles available through Overdrive?

[JSWolf]

Is it still true that if you live in Canada that you cannot purchase eBooks from Amazon from Penguin? I'd like to know because I don't want to be giving out false information. I know at one point it was true. But I have no idea about now. Thanks.

[abookreader]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is it still true that if you live in Canada that you cannot purchase eBooks from Amazon from Penguin? I'd like to know because I don't want to be giving out false information. I know at one point it was true. But I have no idea about now. Thanks.

Not, that isn't true. There was a time when you couldn't buy Penguin books with a US address because of a contract dispute and many US buyers switched their Kindle addresses to Canada to get access - I can't recall an instance where Penguin wasn't selling to Canadian addresses but maybe I missed it.

BTW, since you have such a huge interest in all things Kindle JsWolf, you can check these out for yourself. Go to Amazon.com and don't be signed into an account. Search in the Kindle Store and you will see a drop down box on the left to set your Country. Change that to whatever region you desire to see the availability and prices.

See attached. The Help, published by Penguin Publishing. Available in Canada.

[SteveEisenberg]

withdrawn

[J. Strnad]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It just seems that whatever happens we get caught in the middle with neither side doing what is best for the readers.

Yes, you have that right.

Publishers do what they believe is best for them as a publisher, keeping in mind that they are in competition with all the other publishers.

Writers do what they believe is best for them, individually.

Readers get caught in the middle, the victims of "friendly fire." They need to do what is best for them. Boycott. Complain. Vote with their wallets.

Ultimately everyone else will go where the readers lead.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by abookreader

Not, that isn't true. There was a time when you couldn't buy Penguin books with a US address because of a contract dispute and many US buyers switched their Kindle addresses to Canada to get access - I can't recall an instance where Penguin wasn't selling to Canadian addresses but maybe I missed it.

BTW, since you have such a huge interest in all things Kindle JsWolf, you can check these out for yourself. Go to Amazon.com and don't be signed into an account. Search in the Kindle Store and you will see a drop down box on the left to set your Country. Change that to whatever region you desire to see the availability and prices.

See attached. The Help, published by Penguin Publishing. Available in Canada.

Thanks for this. It worked and now I know what's true so I won't be saying something that's false.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

Vote with their wallets.

That's how I do it.

Frankly, I really don't care what the publishers do. They can charge anything they want. If I don't like the price, I walk away.