Great opinion article. Calling Amazon’s used ebook patent filing for what it is…another manoeuvre in the goal to make the traditional publishing industry obsolete.
Used Ebooks, the Ridiculous Idea that Could Also Destroy the Publishing Industry | Motherboard.
“It was a bit of a roller coaster for libraries and ebooks in 2012…”
via Ebooks 2013: New leasing models, cheaper devices, more content – The Digital Shift.
You may also be be interested in:
eBook Options for Libraries @ lisinfo.org (dated June 19, 2012)
The most promising aspect of the deal – and one that I hope will set a precedent – is that it was concluded through Smashwords’ acceptance of a simple document [pdf], “Statement of Common Understanding for Purchasing Electronic Content.” The keystone clause underpinning the Common Understanding’s resolutions is: “The Library affirms that it will comply with U.S. Copyright Law.” It subsequently specifies in clean and commonsense language what that means: i.e., purchase is not a transfer of copyright; the library will loan one copy for each ebook copy purchased; and it will not make derivative works such as films or translations. It affirms DCL’s right to make archival or preservation copies Copyright Section 108c, and the ability to make accessible copies available to the reading impaired Section 121. The whole document does not cover two pages. There is also a handshake agreement that should an author or publisher publish material through Smashwords without necessary rights and the library owns that title, then Smashwords will issue a request for the library to remove that title from its collection. The library will receive a refund for its purchase.
“Flexibility is the guiding principle at Coliloquy: narrative structure, process, and format are all up for adjustment with every new title, and every last reader. A choose-your-own-adventure model* for the data-tracking age, its books are designed with multiple “pathways” that lead stories down divergent plotlines. The choices that readers make are logged, anonymously, for analysis by Coliloquy’s team and the authors themselves.”
via The Data-Driven, 21st-Century ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ – Betsy Morais – The Atlantic.
infophile 