Largest independent book publisher signs with Apple

Despite threats from Amazon that it will stop selling the independent publisher's books if they sign on with Apple's iBookstore, Perseus Books Group, the largest independent publisher, has signed a deal with Apple. David Steinberger, chief executive of Perseus, told the New York Times, "We're working with Apple to make books from The Perseus Books Group and the independent publishers we represent available on the iBookstore starting on April 3. As the leading provider of distribution services for independent publishers, including digital distribution through our Constellation digital service, Perseus is thrilled to be making our books available on the iPad."

Perseus also distributes books from 330 smaller presses, the most notable being Harvard Business School Press and Zagat. Similar to Apple's deal with app developers and the other large publishers who have already signed on, Apple will allow Perseus to set prices for their ebooks while Apple will receive a 30% cut. With the number of publishers clamoring to get in on the iBookstore, one begins to wonder if it's more of a question of "when" and not "if" that Apple will become the largest ebook reseller.

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Source: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/perseus-sig…

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Despite threats from Amazon that it will stop selling the independent publisher's books if they sign on with Apple's iBookstore, Perseus...

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jeemy

Apple ipad, iphone and ipod column: http://www.ifunia.com/resources.html

March 23 2010 at 9:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jeemy

Perhaps this really is a great partnership and initial campaign for Apple to kick off the iPad, i think ebook will be most affected, Amazon will not lose much.
Learn more about apple news and its video tips, or free resources, this apple spot is just the right place for you: Apple ipad, iphone and ipod column.

March 23 2010 at 9:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Joe

The threats from Amazon are ignorant and childish. If Amazon pulls publishers from its store because they move to the iBookstore, they aren't hurting Apple; they're hurting consumers and they're hurting themselves.

I'm a happy Kindle owner who is thrilled to see that Amazon is working on an iPad Kindle app, because I intend to soon be a happy iPad owner as well. I look forward to using both my Kindle and my iPad for reading, since they serve different purposes for me. The Kindle will be best for long reading sessions, due to the e-ink and long battery life, whereas the iPad will serve in a pinch when I don't want to carry both devices with me, or when I want to read a book with color illustrations or interactive content.

However, if Amazon is going to pull publishers out of there store because they also want to participate in the iBookstore, then I may soon find myself buying my books through there instead. If I can't find the books I want in one store, I WILL go to another. My loyalty does not lie with any particular store or device, but with the content. Apple figured this out years ago with the iTunes store and DRM, so why is it that other companies still seem to be missing the point? We want our content, and we want to use it where and hwo we like.

March 23 2010 at 11:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Joe's comment

Le Big Mac

The dam has been breached. Amazon will ultimately cave on its threats.

March 23 2010 at 2:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Shawn Ames

TTTT, this is a great partnership and initial campaign for Apple to kick off the iPad.

March 23 2010 at 10:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply