Amazon offers indie authors reward for going exclusive - Page 31

Andrew H. · 04-09-2012, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

This approach reminds me of this quote:

[snip Martin Niemoller]

Once Amazon has effective control over the ebook marketplace, authors will have no choice but to do as Amazon says and accede to whatever demands Amazon may make. At that point authors will have little power to fight back. If an author can't get Amazon to change the terms of its contracts now when there is competition, what makes an author think he/she will be able to effectively fight back when there is no competition?

1. Yeah, because Amazon is *just like* the Nazis. Come on, get some perspective.

2. Again, *this never happens*.

vaughnmr · 04-09-2012, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If the eBooks were not available at Amazon, People would buy other readers that handled ePub or install ePub reading apps for their tablets (for those that read using a tablet). And if that happens in enough force, Amazon will cave. Also, I think Kindle owners will be complaining in force for Amazon to do something even if that means going ePub.

God forbid we have to start using ADE. That's like taking one step forward and 10 steps back!

JSWolf · 04-09-2012, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

The crime is committed when the companies get together and do something to restrain trade, which this would certainly be. It doesn't matter how complicated it is for Amazon to switch to ADE; companies aren't allowed to get together and force Amazon to make that switch.

Is it illegal then to say "We've decided that we only want to sell in ePub."? That is not then saying to Amazon that you HAVE to switch formats or such. That's just saying that we are switching our eBook format to just ePub. Sure, it's the same thing , but the wording is different and in that case, that might just do it.

JSWolf · 04-09-2012, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vaughnmr

God forbid we have to start using ADE. That's like taking one step forward and 10 steps back!

I have no problems using ADE. I use ADE for Windows and I use it on my 650 as well as Bluefire Reader for iOS on an iPad.

ProfCrash · 04-09-2012, 11:49 AM

Amazon went with its own DRM so it did not have to pay money to another company. I don't want to use ADE, from everything I have read it is a pain in the ass and I don't like how it works.

Instead of stupidly suggesting that the Publishers cut off their nose to spite their face and suggest that they try and force Amazon to use a format and DRM that they don't want to use, how about focusing on something that the Publishers could do, would help the other e-book sellers, and would benefit everyone and that is to simply get rid of DRM.

That is more likely to happen then anyone telling Amazon that they are required to pay money to Adobe to use their DRM. Not to mention, will BN be forced to use the same ADE as everyone else? BN uses a different DRM then Sony and Kobo. Sony and Kobo could put it on their devices but have not.

howyoudoin · 04-09-2012, 11:56 AM

ePub stores are free to sell books in non-DRM'd mobi format to tap into the kindle market.

ProfCrash · 04-09-2012, 12:01 PM

E-Pub stores have to have the books to sell. Most people with Kindles, and I would assume e-readers in general, are not huge into the independnet author/small press selections. They want to read the works coming out of the Big 6. The Big 6 insist on DRM. There is no way for BN to sell DRM Free Mobi e-books from the Big 6 without the Big 6 giving it the ok. The Big 6 are not doing that.

I have no numbers to back up my first statement. While there are some independent authors that have received contracts with the Big 6, the number remains small. Based on personal observation, the only people I know buying indie authors are posting on this site and Kindle Boards (probably others but that is where I post and read). No one in my circle of family, friends, and co-workers reads the DRM indie stuff. I am going to guess that is closer to the norm then the people posting on the internet.

So DRM free indies are great and could be carried by BN, Sony, and Kobo in Mobi but those books are not selling in EPub at their sites so why bother carrying them in Mobi. Now, the next book by Dan Brown being sold DRM free would be a big deal.

murraypaul · 04-09-2012, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is it illegal then to say "We've decided that we only want to sell in ePub."? That is not then saying to Amazon that you HAVE to switch formats or such. That's just saying that we are switching our eBook format to just ePub. Sure, it's the same thing , but the wording is different and in that case, that might just do it.

If they all get together and agree to do it then yes, it is illegal.

ProfCrash · 04-09-2012, 01:55 PM

And I am sure Adobe would be thrilled with that solution. They make more money.

TimW · 04-09-2012, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

And I am sure Adobe would be thrilled with that solution. They make more money.

Yes, they would. It would cost Amazon millions of dollars per years in "Adobe taxes." Amazon wouldn't absorb the cost...it would be tacked on the price of ebooks. ADE doesn't add anything to my reading enjoyment.

JSWolf · 04-11-2012, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

ePub stores are free to sell books in non-DRM'd mobi format to tap into the kindle market.

And that would be a big step backwards. Mobi is obsolete.

JSWolf · 04-11-2012, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimW

Yes, they would. It would cost Amazon millions of dollars per years in "Adobe taxes." Amazon wouldn't absorb the cost...it would be tacked on the price of ebooks. ADE doesn't add anything to my reading enjoyment.

Amazon could go ePub without DRM and thus, not pay anything to Adobe.

BeccaPrice · 04-11-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

And I am sure Adobe would be thrilled with that solution. They make more money.

and wouldn't that give Adobe an illegal monopoly?

J. Strnad · 04-11-2012, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Mobi is obsolete.

Something is obsolete when it's rendered essentially useless. A Betamax player is "obsolete" in that no one makes Beta tape or Beta pre-recorded material anymore. Sure, a few people still have them and their collections on Beta, but generally speaking, a Betamax is obsolete. As are CP/M computers, button hooks, and Victrolas.

Mobi still works, even though epub is better, and mobi ebooks can be read on the #1 ereader in America. That's hardly "obsolete." Sometimes the lesser format wins the war for non-technical reasons.

pdurrant · 04-12-2012, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

Mobi still works, even though epub is better, and mobi ebooks can be read on the #1 ereader in America. That's hardly "obsolete." Sometimes the lesser format wins the war for non-technical reasons.

I have to agree with JSWolf here. Mobi is obsolete. Amazon is moving to KF8 (the firmware update for the Kindle touch has just appeared). Large publishers produce ePubs, and leave any conversion to Amazon.

I still use Mobi myself, but I can see that sometime in the next five years I'll be moving my archive over to ePub

Luckily, converting from Mobipocket format to ePub is simple and very nearly lossless.

04-09-2012, 11:49 AM	#455
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Amazon went with its own DRM so it did not have to pay money to another company. I don't want to use ADE, from everything I have read it is a pain in the ass and I don't like how it works. Instead of stupidly suggesting that the Publishers cut off their nose to spite their face and suggest that they try and force Amazon to use a format and DRM that they don't want to use, how about focusing on something that the Publishers could do, would help the other e-book sellers, and would benefit everyone and that is to simply get rid of DRM. That is more likely to happen then anyone telling Amazon that they are required to pay money to Adobe to use their DRM. Not to mention, will BN be forced to use the same ADE as everyone else? BN uses a different DRM then Sony and Kobo. Sony and Kobo could put it on their devices but have not. Last edited by ProfCrash; 04-09-2012 at 01:24 PM.

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04-09-2012, 11:56 AM	#456
howyoudoin how YOU doin? Posts: 1,100 Karma: 7371047 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: India Device: Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro 10.5”, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	ePub stores are free to sell books in non-DRM'd mobi format to tap into the kindle market.

04-09-2012, 12:01 PM	#457
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	E-Pub stores have to have the books to sell. Most people with Kindles, and I would assume e-readers in general, are not huge into the independnet author/small press selections. They want to read the works coming out of the Big 6. The Big 6 insist on DRM. There is no way for BN to sell DRM Free Mobi e-books from the Big 6 without the Big 6 giving it the ok. The Big 6 are not doing that. I have no numbers to back up my first statement. While there are some independent authors that have received contracts with the Big 6, the number remains small. Based on personal observation, the only people I know buying indie authors are posting on this site and Kindle Boards (probably others but that is where I post and read). No one in my circle of family, friends, and co-workers reads the DRM indie stuff. I am going to guess that is closer to the norm then the people posting on the internet. So DRM free indies are great and could be carried by BN, Sony, and Kobo in Mobi but those books are not selling in EPub at their sites so why bother carrying them in Mobi. Now, the next book by Dan Brown being sold DRM free would be a big deal.

04-09-2012, 01:55 PM	#459
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	And I am sure Adobe would be thrilled with that solution. They make more money.