8/8/10 Writing and Publishing News

Where the Law and Literature Meet


Connecticut joins other state attorneys’ general in investigating Apple and Amazon’s most favored nation deals with publishers: http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=463892&A=3869

Apple’s agency model comes under more scrutiny in the UK: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/125214-apples-agency-model-scrutinised.html

Glenn Beck followers convince library that gay literature is child pornography: http://gawker.com/5604429/glenn-becks-minions-convince-new-jersey-library-a-gay-book-is-child-pornography

Paperback publisher goes all digital: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703309704575413611289773690.html

Paul Levine, on how legal thrillers fall short, legally speaking: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-levine/legal-thrillers-trial-and_b_670856.html

The art of the book thief: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/7903230/The-love-of-the-high-end-heist.html

Both houses of Congress have passed libel tourism bill to protect free speech against foreign suits: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/30/libel_tourism_bill/



More writing and publishing links

How many books are there in the world? Google claims to have counted: http://booksearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/books-of-world-stand-up-and-be-counted.html

5/18/10 Writing and Publishing News

Which literary agent got busted for stealing from his clients? Which author is dealing directly with Amazon for traditional book publishing? Which book got halted after a libel threat letter went out to everyone connected with it? Is the agency model iPad uses for e-books going to run into antitrust problems in the UK? These and other stories are in this edition of The Write Report.

Where the law and literature meet:

Literary agent on trial for stealing from his authors: http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/court/Literary-agent-trial/article-2145139-detail/article.html

How the agency model may fall afoul of UK’s anti-competition laws: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/118550-legal-issues-raise-question-over-ipad-agency-model-in-uk.html and http://mhpbooks.com/mobylives/?p=15167

Canadian publisher postpones mining book after libel threat letter goes to everyone connected with the book: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/118600-canadian-publisher-postpones-book-on-legal-threat.html

Konrath signs directly with Amazon for traditional book, bypasses agents and mainstream publishers: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/05/shaken-by-ja-konrath-press-release.html


More headlines:

Another piece on applying science to literature: http://www.thecommonreview.org/feature-articles/gottschalls-problem.html

On Ralph Ellison, writer’s block, letting go of the manuscript and finding an ending: http://chronicle.com/article/Ralph-Ellisons-Never-Ending/65399/

Facebook creates community pages for bestselling authors, publishing houses: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/random_house/facebook_creates_community_pages_for_stephen_king_kathryn_stockett_random_house_and_many_others_161594.asp

Cory Doctorow drops Facebook over privacy issues, but his community page is still up: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/authors/cory_doctorow_drops_facebook_account_his_community_page_remains_161606.asp

Amazon to separate out free books from others in bestseller lists: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/43152-amazon-to-drop-free-books-from-kindle-bestseller-list.html

20 Tips for Writers: http://www.scribd.com/doc/31244122/20-Tips-for-Writers-by-Douglas-Clegg

How the iPad is a friend to Penguin: http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/apples-ipad-is-penguins-friend-amazon-enemy/

Konrath gives the details on how he makes money e-publishing, including names, recommendations: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/05/top-ebook-questions.html







Nothing to do with writing, but I couldn’t resist a story about how Florida police deal with 911 calls claiming voodoo curses: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/delray-beach/fl-voodoo-police-20100515,0,5298065.story

4/12/10 Writing and Publishing News

Where the law and literature meet:

Suit by photographers says Google is a brazen content thief: http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/web_services/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224202351

Sacha Baron Cohen wins libel suit for insulting ex-girlfriend while in character: http://www.metnews.com/articles/2010/doe040810.htm

Publishers put the squeeze on booksellers over credit: http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/455978-Publishers_Squeezing_Booksellers_on_Credit.php

How will returns work with agency model? Anyone?: http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2010/04/burning-question-about-agency.html

Penguin India decides that releasing digital books will reduce piracy. I wonder if they’re talking with the U.S. branch of the company: http://www.watblog.com/2010/04/12/penguin-india-goes-digita/



More headlines:

Does it matter if good writers are lousy human beings?: http://incharacter.org/review/good-writers-bad-men-does-it-matter/

iPhone apps make reading easier for dyslexics: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/apr/06/iphone-makes-reading-books-easier

Where mobile libraries are thriving: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/07/mobile-libraries

Wuthering Heights sales double thanks to Twilight: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/7570922/Wuthering-Heights-quadruple-double-thanks-to-Twilight-effect.html

Chinese writer calls internet literature “garbage”: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6945890.html

Academics predict 1/3 of books will be read on e-reading devices in the next 5 years: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/aussie-academics-say-third-of-books-will-be-read-on-ipad-style-devices-within-five-years/story-e6frf7ko-1225851480531

Where you can get a degree in Vampire Lit: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/trends/vampire_lit_gets_its_scholarly_due_157516.asp

50 best book people to follow in Twitter: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/09/50-best-book-people-to-fo_n_529295.html

Life magazine covers famous literary drunks and addicts: http://www.life.com/image/72383915/in-gallery/38742/famous-literary-drunks--addicts

Some Spring rays of hope in lousy bookselling market: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/115976-publishers-point-to-green-shoots-after-worrying-first-quarter.html

Why the iPad won’t save newspapers: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/apr/12/ipad-rupert-murdoch

Children’s booksellers want more stand-alone books: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/115987-childrens-retailers-clamour-for-stand-alone-titles-.html

3/30/10 Writing and Publishing News

Where the law and literature meet:

The battle lines are drawn - Ingram won’t distribute books for publishers using agency model: http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/25/ingram-draws-line-in-sand-over-agency-model/

Run into Prince Charles while jogging? Best not blog about the experience. New proposed law imposes gag order on anything about the royals: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7069750.ece

Lawyer sues when HBO promotes his movie then plays porn movie with same name instead: http://www.abajournal.com/weekly/article/lawyer_sues_after_film_contained_more_thighs_than_anticipated

Amazon reported in Scotland for bullying: http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Bookshops-hit-back-at-Amazon.6186211.jp

Trouble for Google in France: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/115133-french-publisher-gallimard-to-sue-google.html

Simon Singh, champion of libel reform, freedom to sport really hideous haircuts: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article7078008.ece

Blame libel tourism on Arnold, and more on the history of libel tourism, libel reform: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jwKRQVu4JPYuCjr3U1CcZPfE0NxgD9EKG0901
More headlines:

Book tourus interruptus: http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2010/0330/Like-Sarah-Palin-Karl-Rove-faces-book-tour-disruption?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fbooks+%28Christian+Science+Monitor++Books%29

Don’t give up your day job and other realties in the current publishing market: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/7523153/Apoca-lit-Now.html

Stephen King doesn’t need no stinkin’ iPad: http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=13636

Five lessons Apple can learn from Amazon: http://government.zdnet.com/?p=8271

Romance heroes are as sexy as socks: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1262162/Heroes-The-new-men-modern-romantic-fiction-sexy-socks.html

Has Gerald Posner set world plagiarism record?: http://gawker.com/5505620/gerald-posner-may-set-world-plagiarism-record

Margaret Atwood is a Twitter addict: http://gawker.com/5505244/the-real-margaret-atwood-is-a-twitter-addict

As a sign of the apocalypse, Glenn Beck is signed to write a novel. But will it make him cry?: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/celebrities/glenn_beck_unveils_his_upcoming_novel_156793.asp

Stephenie Meyer to release new book, free e-version: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/authors/stephenie_meyer_to_release_first_new_book_in_almost_two_years_156730.asp

3/24/10 Writing and Publishing News

Where the law and literature meet:

German court claims jurisdiction over libel case because article can be viewed in Germany: http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=11326

Screenwriters lose plagiarism suit over God of War video game: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/99222-Sony-Fends-Off-Copyright-Lawsuit-Against-God-Of-War

Mohammad cartoon faces the dread British courts over libel: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/62909

Philip Pullman threatened, needs security over new book: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/7493602/Philip-Pullman-threatened-by-religious-zealots-over-new-Jesus-Christ-book.html

Authors Guild warns writers to read letters from Random, HC carefully before agreeing to lock in e-book royalty rates: http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/453656-Authors_Guild_Warns_Again_on_e_Book_Royalties.php

Barrister wins big bucks after being accused of helping a friend get away with murder: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/barrister-pockets-630000-for-libel-20100322-qrda.html

The Takedown (notice) Hall of Shame: http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/takedown_putdown

The great new business model, Harper Studio, goes down in flames: http://gawker.com/5495612/harpercollins-rethinking-bloggy-book-label

Reasons to refuse to allow Google BookScan to publish your thesis online: http://gawker.com/5494979/does-michael-lewis-snatch-his-ideas-from-college-kids

Finally, Britain may reform its libel laws: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/114902-pa-welcomes-mojs-libel-reforms.html  and http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/24/libel-tourism-reform-jack-straw

Random says it may pass on iPad bookselling: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d11b5fc-36b9-11df-b810-00144feabdc0.html  

$18.9 million verdict reinstated against employee who stole company manuals, gave to competitor: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202446702735&Reinstated__Million_Copyright_Verdict_Marks_Latest_Twist_in_LongRunning_Case


More headlines:

Which Nobel laureate had to proofread in the forest due to spy fears?: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1542573.php/Spy-fears-drove-Nobel-laureate-to-proofread-in-forest

Nicholas Sparks, bastion of modesty: http://www.powells.com/blog/?p=16818?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=facebook_fans&utm_content=Book%20News%20March18

The decline of the bestseller: http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/453748-The_View_from_the_Top.php

Americans’ reading habits. We like to be scared, then reassured: http://gawker.com/5500661/americans-afraid-of-freemasons-canada-alex-rodriguez

Book not available on the Kindle is savaged by one star reviews by Kindle owners: http://gawker.com/5500086/online-mob-savages-michael-lewis-book

Gerald Posner admits to large number of plagiarism violations. One of the authors he stole from is in the audience. Video goodness: http://gawker.com/5497305/gerald-posner-im-a-thieving-cocksucker

Why the agency model will be good for Amazon: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2010/03/23/to-beat-apple-amazon-needs-to-let-publishers-win.aspx

Jeff Kinney on multimedia and the future of children’s book publishing: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031901574.html