Amazon Improves Conditions for eBook Publishers

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by =X=

Wan't it jobs that said "people don't read any more." Hm I wonder if he's trying to price us out, while he drops price in music.

=X=

Yes, it was Jobs who said that and he is backing up his words with the iBookstore. From what I see, of the major ebookstores linked to devices -- Amazon, B&N, Borders, Kobo, and Sony -- his is the worst.

I saw my first iPad in "the wild" a few days ago and have to admit I wasn't impressed. Maybe iPad2 or iPad3 will be impressive (certainly the foundation is something that can be built on), but except for the marketing and the fanaticism of Apple devotees, I don't see the iPad as being fantastic at anything -- OK at everything, but not fantastic.

I asked the person who owned the iPad how much ebook reading he does on the iPad and he said he downloaded a free bok about 4 months ago but has yet to read past page 5.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by elcreative

Well that may be fine in the states but in the UK and Europe price-fixing is illegal and if that's what's going on then the EU will be taking very expensive action soon... otherwise just looks like the anti-Apple lobby strikes again... well, makes a change from Bill Gates Evil Empire and the Illuminati...

Legall, it isn't price fixing. The actual retailer is the book publisher, not the bookstore. The bookstore simply acts as a conduit. It also isn't price fixing because there is no agreement on pricing among the publishers. Each sets its own price on each book it publishes. I doubt that agency pricing will go away as a result of legal action.

[elcreative]

Try checking the Sale of Goods Act... the place/person who sell you a book is the "supplier" of the book and all of your dealings are with that entity just like any other item - the publisher is not the retailer unless you buy directly from the publisher - retail means just that, selling to a customer for their use... and if you don't like the term "price fixing" then try "acting as a cartel"

Originally Posted by rhadin

Legall, it isn't price fixing. The actual retailer is the book publisher, not the bookstore. The bookstore simply acts as a conduit. It also isn't price fixing because there is no agreement on pricing among the publishers. Each sets its own price on each book it publishes. I doubt that agency pricing will go away as a result of legal action.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by elcreative

Try checking the Sale of Goods Act... the place/person who sell you a book is the "supplier" of the book and all of your dealings are with that entity just like any other item - the publisher is not the retailer unless you buy directly from the publisher - retail means just that, selling to a customer for their use... and if you don't like the term "price fixing" then try "acting as a cartel"

1. They are not price fixing. What they are doing is not illegal. What they are doing is not that different from "fixing" the wholesale prices that they used to charge retailers for e-books.

Price fixing would be if the publishers all agreed that they wouldn't sell new books for less than, say $14.99. Or for more that $5.99, for that matter. But that's not what's going on here at all - the publisher's prices vary widely, even for new books, and there seems to be at least as much competition among publishers as there was before the agency model was adopted.

2. In much of Europe, as was noted earlier, price fixing of books is not only not illegal, it is required.

3. I'm not sure what you mean by "acting like a cartel." Usually this comes with some sort of suggestion of illegality, or some sort of restraint of trade, and as noted above, they aren't doing anything illegal.

[Rhynedahll]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Amazon still takes a penal 65%/70% commission on ebook sales outside the USA and UK. Neil

Exactly.

[jasonkchapman]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

and as noted above, they aren't doing anything illegal.

And even if they were deemed to be, and by some strange quirk of the universe, the legal system seemed to be in the position to make such a charge stick, the simplest solution for the publishers would be to stop selling e-books through third-party agencies and strictly sell them directly.

I don't think anyone is interested in seeing things go in that direction.