Publishers continue to live in the past

[EowynCarter]

More and more, i'm afraid to find myself unable to buy e-book in english....
Still, it's interstring that amazon will sell book from uk publishers.

And *I* want to buy books published in the UK. I mean, after all, the US edition of the first Harry Potter book even has a bastardized title.

Seconded !

[bill_mchale]

I think the publisher's position in general is relatively reasonable. They are simply trying to protect the markets that are theirs by right of the laws of their countries and the agreements they made with the authors and or the author estates.

Ultimately, this is an issue of an outdated international copyright system that was developed long before international trade became as easy as it is today. The long and the short of it is that international copyright law needs a total overhaul and rationalization.

--
Bill

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by dickon25

Out of interest (and one of our authors or publishers may be able to answer this) what is to stop an author negotiating with a single publisher and selling it the worldwide rights to a book, the whole shebang? Why do the rights packages have to be arranged in regional sections?

What happens if a publisher isn't active world wide? Offhand, I can't think of any publisher that has subsidiaries selling books in every country.

There will also be plenty of books that will only be of interest in specific countries.

As I understand it, a UK author sells the UK/EU rights to say, Random House then will seperately sell the US/Can rights to a US publisher and so on for other regions. I know that different countries have differing copyright rules and that requires governments to act but, surely the publishers must realise that all media is now global and these restrictions will hurt them in the long run??

Will it hurt them in the long run? Forget differing copyright rules. Let's say I'm a publisher in a European country. I bid for and get the rights to publish an edition in my country of an international best seller written in the US. I damn well do want the exclusive rights to offer the book in my country, and will be quite unhappy about the book being available in my territory from other sources. I want to stay in business.

And let's say I'm the author of that international best seller. I want the best deal I can get in terms of advances and royalties. Would that be with an all-inclusive deal with one mega-publisher (assuming there was one active any place my books might be sold), or am I better if my agent negotiates separately for foreign rights with different publishers in other countries? I'm willing to bet separate deals are better for me, because my agent can put my book up for auction internationally, with high bidder in each market winning.
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Dennis

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

What happens if a publisher isn't active world wide? Offhand, I can't think of any publisher that has subsidiaries selling books in every country.

There will also be plenty of books that will only be of interest in specific countries.


Will it hurt them in the long run? Forget differing copyright rules. Let's say I'm a publisher in a European country. I bid for and get the rights to publish an edition in my country of an international best seller written in the US. I damn well do want the exclusive rights to offer the book in my country, and will be quite unhappy about the book being available in muy territory from other sources. I want to stay in business.

And let's say I'm the author of that international best seller. I want the best deal I can get in terms of advances and royalties. Would that be with an all-inclusive deal with one mega-publisher (assuming there was one active any place my books might be sold), or am I better if my agent negotiates separately for foreign right with different publishers in other countries? I'm will to bet separate deals are better for me, because my agent can put my book up for auction internationally, with high bidder in each market winning.
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Dennis

That i can understand.

But what if I live in the US and wants to read in spanish ? Or if i'm French and want to read in English ?
I wouldn't think of reading French authors in an other language than French. I want to read Americans and English authors in the original English.
And well, Americans should be able to read harry potter with the original JKR english if they want to.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

What happens if a publisher isn't active world wide? Offhand, I can't think of any publisher that has subsidiaries selling books in every country.

There will also be plenty of books that will only be of interest in specific countries.


Will it hurt them in the long run? Forget differing copyright rules. Let's say I'm a publisher in a European country. I bid for and get the rights to publish an edition in my country of an international best seller written in the US. I damn well do want the exclusive rights to offer the book in my country, and will be quite unhappy about the book being available in muy territory from other sources. I want to stay in business.

And let's say I'm the author of that international best seller. I want the best deal I can get in terms of advances and royalties. Would that be with an all-inclusive deal with one mega-publisher (assuming there was one active any place my books might be sold), or am I better if my agent negotiates separately for foreign right with different publishers in other countries? I'm will to bet separate deals are better for me, because my agent can put my book up for auction internationally, with high bidder in each market winning.
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Dennis

But that no longer works, from a consumer sense. I can buy anything, anywhere, and have it delivered to my doorstep (assuming, of course, it's legal in my jurisdiction and along the delivery path!). I cannot be forced to buy in one region. The concept of a region restriction is a dead letter. For example, DVD's. It doesn't matter about Hollywood trying to force me to buy region 1 DVD's. In extrimis, I can buy a cheap DVD player from all 6 regions and make certain finger gestures at Hollywood for their obtuseness. Anyone who wants around the e-book restrictions can do so...

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

What happens if a publisher isn't active world wide? Offhand, I can't think of any publisher that has subsidiaries selling books in every country.

There will also be plenty of books that will only be of interest in specific countries.


Will it hurt them in the long run? Forget differing copyright rules. Let's say I'm a publisher in a European country. I bid for and get the rights to publish an edition in my country of an international best seller written in the US. I damn well do want the exclusive rights to offer the book in my country, and will be quite unhappy about the book being available in muy territory from other sources. I want to stay in business.

And let's say I'm the author of that international best seller. I want the best deal I can get in terms of advances and royalties. Would that be with an all-inclusive deal with one mega-publisher (assuming there was one active any place my books might be sold), or am I better if my agent negotiates separately for foreign right with different publishers in other countries? I'm will to bet separate deals are better for me, because my agent can put my book up for auction internationally, with high bidder in each market winning.
______
Dennis

You all should bloody well MOVE to the US and leave over your former homelands to the agribusiness combines! And bloody well learn US English at the same time. *AND* give up your former histories and cultures for American culture! Long Live Michael Moore!

(Grinning. Ducking. And running for cover. )

Derek

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

You all should bloody well MOVE to the US and leave over your former homelands to the agribusiness combines! And bloody well learn US English at the same time. *AND* give up your former histories and cultures for American culture! Long Live Michael Moore!

(Grinning. Ducking. And running for cover. )

Derek

But if they all move to the US, who will make all of those cheap sweatshop-made products for the US consumer???

[ahi]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

You all should bloody well MOVE to the US and leave over your former homelands to the agribusiness combines! And bloody well learn US English at the same time. *AND* give up your former histories and cultures for American culture! Long Live Michael Moore!

(Grinning. Ducking. And running for cover. )

Derek

Even if there wasn't reason to wonder whether you really think this way, it still wouldn't be funny.

- Ahi

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by ahi

Even if there wasn't reason to wonder whether you really think this way, it still wouldn't be funny.

- Ahi

In the eyes of the beholder. I've never said I had a great sense of humor, just that I have something that I use as such.

Derek

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

But if they all move to the US, who will make all of those cheap sweatshop-made products for the US consumer???

But... but, isn't the cheap sweatshop *based* in the USA? If we all move there, the more illegal aliens to work in said sweatshops!!

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by Ea

But... but, isn't the cheap sweatshop *based* in the USA? If we all move there, the more illegal aliens to work in said sweatshops!!

No! No! No! No! No! We only allow the slave-driving BOSSES to live in the US!

Yeah, all these big-name US companies which promote their 'worker-friendliness' all the while they job the real production work out to sweatshops in other countries makes me sick. But then, if you happen to be someone who's got an "opportunity" to work for 10 times your average in-country wage by working in one of these places, you'd probably be wondering why the crazy Americans are complaining. The world *do* get to be a strange place sometimes.


Derek

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

But that no longer works, from a consumer sense. I can buy anything, anywhere, and have it delivered to my doorstep (assuming, of course, it's legal in my jurisdiction and along the delivery path!). I cannot be forced to buy in one region. The concept of a region restriction is a dead letter. For example, DVD's. It doesn't matter about Hollywood trying to force me to buy region 1 DVD's. In extrimis, I can buy a cheap DVD player from all 6 regions and make certain finger gestures at Hollywood for their obtuseness. Anyone who wants around the e-book restrictions can do so...

Yes, you can buy anything, anywhere. What may differ depending upon where you are is who you may buy it from.

Different companies in different countries around the world will have the rights to offer different products. Those rights have value, as they mean you are the exclusive source for something in your area, and they may be expensive to obtain, arduous to keep, and jealously guarded, because they may be the reason you're in business in the first place.

In the case of ebooks, there will be pressure to enforce the same rights currently in place for physical books. Different publishers will have the rights for different titles in different areas, and will try to enforce those rights regardless of whether the book is electronic or paper. Having exclusive rights to various things in their area is how they make their living.

Suggest to them they shouldn't have exclusive rights, and should in consequence possibly go out of business. Just don't expect a polite response.
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Dennis

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

That i can understand.

But what if I live in the US and wants to read in spanish ? Or if i'm French and want to read in English ?
I wouldn't think of reading French authors in an other language than French. I want to read Americans and English authors in the original English.

What is stopping you? I can find foreign language editions here in the US.

Are you encountering problems specifically getting particular language versions of ebooks?

And well, Americans should be able to read harry potter with the original JKR english if they want to.

And well, Americans can. My SO ordered British editions of JKR and Terry Pratchett via Amazon UK. There will be shipping charges, but we can get the books...
______
Dennis

[dickon25]

DMcCunney
.....Let's say I'm a publisher in a European country. I bid for and get the rights to publish an edition in my country of an international best seller written in the US. I damn well do want the exclusive rights to offer the book in my country....

That's a good summary of the current situation but surely it only applies to physical books because the publisher can physically control their availability in any particular country for which they have the rights. As Ralph Sir Edward says, from the consumer of ebooks point of view, it's now no longer appropriate for how we buy and read books (or music). Or should I say 'How we would LIKE to buy' these media.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Yes, you can buy anything, anywhere. What may differ depending upon where you are is who you may buy it from.

Different companies in different countries around the world will have the rights to offer different products. Those rights have value, as they mean you are the exclusive source for something in your area, and they may be expensive to obtain, arduous to keep, and jealously guarded, because they may be the reason you're in business in the first place.

In the case of ebooks, there will be pressure to enforce the same rights currently in place for physical books. Different publishers will have the rights for different titles in different areas, and will try to enforce those rights regardless of whether the book is electronic or paper. Having exclusive rights to various things in their area is how they make their living.

Suggest to them they shouldn't have exclusive rights, and should in consequence possibly go out of business. Just don't expect a polite response.
______
Dennis

If they want to have exclusive rights, it needs to be for the whole world. Otherwise, current reality is going to cause them to fail. If I want to buy a copy of book XYZ, I can look over all the sellers in the world, not just the sellers in a limited region. (such as the US or UK) I can buy the product on the best terms I can find (depending on how I define terms, not a companies' obsolete business model). If it's cheaper in the UK, I'll buy it there. If it's cheaper in the US, I'll buy it here. Every copy of XYZ is in competition with each other for my purchase dollar. If a publisher exists due to a business model that doesn't match this reality, then they deserve to fail. Nor am I pirating the book, I'm buy a legitimate copy of the book at the lowest possible price. And that's both legal and moral.