Sleepy like a croc
A few short weeks ago, I blogged my suspicions that publishers are talkin’ fuzzy about ebook rights, seemingly unsure of their revenue-generating potential. Meanwhile, at least one Canadian publisher has been approaching authors by mail, offering to relieve them of their ebook rights to out-of-print books in perpetuity, in exchange for a 10% royalty. A dirty job but someone’s got to do it, right?
Still other Canadian publishers scratched their heads in dismay when asked, by The Writers’ Union Chair during his recent cross-country round table talks, what they thought was a fair royalty to pay writers for their ebook rights. It’s so hard to quantify, so elusive to put a percentage figure to this service, they waffled. They still have no idea what their costs might be to produce ebooks (an e-text file?) or how to host or market it online (Has any publisher actually visited the net lately?)
Of course they have.
Of course they know.
It’s their business to know.
It’s a writer’s business to know too.
The similarity between the battle screenwriters recently fought (and won) with studios over digital rights and today’s tug-of-war between writers and publishers is too close for comfort. Here’s an amusing clip from screenwriter Jim Henshaw’s site (the-legion-of-decency.blogspot.com):
I found this press release about the forthcoming International Digital Publishing Forum, on marketwire.com. These guys clearly mean business. Note how clear the American Association of Publishers is about the commercial value of eBook publishing:
Digital Book 2009: an eBook
Stimulus Plan for Publishing
NYC Conference to Focus on Booming eBook Business and Winning Commercial Models
IDPF
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – April 6, 2009) – The Association of American Publishers (AAP) reported last week that eBook sales represent the fastest growing segment of the industry while US book sales are in decline across all major book publishing markets. To promote eBook commercial success for booksellers, publishers, authors, and distributors the International Digital Publishing Forum (www.IDPF.org) will host its annual spring educational seminar on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at the McGraw-Hill Auditorium in New York City. Added to this fast-paced “best practices” conference will be a half-day workshop to be held on the afternoon of Monday, May 11, 2009. Please see www.idpf.org/digitalbook09
“eBook sales are skyrocketing as we head into 2009. Reported eBook sales figures for January 2009 alone grew by more than 170% over January 2008. Digital Book 2009 will discuss the sales and marketing channels and tactics that booksellers and publishers can leverage to be part of the explosive eBook markets. New this year is a half-day hands-on workshop on May 11th with multiple tracks on eBook production, workflow as well as sales, marketing and business development,” stated Michael Smith, Executive Director of IDPF.
Digital Book 2009 will include demonstrations and case studies from technology and publishing executives during panel presentations. Adam M. Smith, Director of Product Management for Google Book Search will be a featured presentation. Event sponsors for Digital Book 2009 include Aptara, Ingram Digital Group, Innodata-Isogen, LibreDigital, OverDrive, Inc., and TexTech, Inc. Attendees to Digital Book 2009 will also learn first-hand how the new EPUB publication format has been utilized by a variety of devices and software to expand the market for digital reading.
In prior years IDPF Digital Book events have been consistently sold-out. It provides a one-day forum that brings together market leaders in eReading software, hardware, mobile applications, and innovative sales channels for digital content. Digital Book 2009 affords attendees an opportunity to network with global publishing and technology leaders focused on the eBook market. Information and registration for the conference is available at www.idpf.org/digitalbook09
