Kindle (AMZN) owners could be in line for refunds of $0.30-$1.32 for each e-book they purchased...

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Joseph P. Porter Comments (361)
 
More important is that the publishers have agreed to alter their policies with regard to controlling the price of e-editions of their books. This will also affect the litigation against Apple and two other publishing companies (I believe McGraw-Hill is one of the other two).
14 Oct 2012, 11:44 AM Reply Like

TomasViewPoint Comments (4326)
 
This will impact Apple to some extent. There price agreement with the publishers is under fire. Amazon will lower book prices further.
14 Oct 2012, 11:57 AM Reply Like

Joseph P. Porter Comments (361)
 
That's the way of the market. The problem was that the publishers were requiring Amazon to charge full hardcover price for the same ebooks. With the evidence prosecutors were able to collect, it looked as if Apple and the publishers were acting in collusion, and unfairly excluding other dealers from competing. Now, at least, the price of ebooks will drop (as they should-they are substantially cheaper to produce than physical books), and other dealers can compete.
14 Oct 2012, 12:23 PM Reply Like

TomasViewPoint Comments (4326)
 
JP

It was one of the easiest cases of collusion that I have seen in a long time.

College textbooks should also be next don't you think? After paying the writers how much does it cost to provide an eBook?
14 Oct 2012, 12:47 PM Reply Like

Joseph P. Porter Comments (361)
 
Absolutely! I am a retired college professor, and when I retired 6 years ago they were charging $150.00 for a book I paid $20 for. The high price of text books in part is because they have to be updated on a regular basis, but also, publishers try to make up for revenue lost to used-book sales (in part, this is why there is pressure on writers to put out new editions of their books on a regular basis). If they got their act together, a text would cost no more than the average book, $15-$25.

By the way, professors do not make that much on text books - certainly nowhere near what the average novelist makes. And they make nothing on used-book sales. eTexts would maybe help even the playing field for writers, and might encourage better material.
14 Oct 2012, 03:10 PM Reply Like

TomasViewPoint Comments (4326)
 
I agree. That would be easier to publish. Easier to update and better profits for at least the writer. I also assumed the amount of graphs and pictures in the textbooks made them more costly but that should all come down if they are electronic.

And hopefully smarter students.
14 Oct 2012, 04:25 PM Reply Like