Online retailer Amazon’s dispute against publisher Hachette Book Group, and including some authors, over the pricing of e-books will affect the future of publishing around the world.
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Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos wants to sell all but a few e-books for US$9.99 or less but the publisher Hachette wants to vary the prices. Sean Gallup / Getty Images -
Amazon says e-books should cost less than traditional books because publishers do not have to pay to print, store and distribute physical objects. Sean Gallup / Getty Images -
Some US authors have questioned Amazon’s tactics of delaying delivery of books and preventing pre-orders. Sean Gallup / Getty Images -
Hachette Book Group, whose authors include Kate Atkinson, Michael Connelly, Mitch Albom and David Baldacci, argues that publisher invest heavily in individual books before seeing any revenue. The publisher recoups its investment from sales of all versions of a published book, paper and digital. Sean Gallup / Getty Images -
Amazon has been accused of boycotting Hachette authors by refusing to accept pre-orders on their books and e-books, refusing to discount prices on their books and slowing book delivery. Sean Gallup / Getty Images -
Amazon explained its pricing rationale and has also pointed out that Hachette was caught colluding with competitors to raise e-book prices in 2012. Sean Gallup / Getty Images -
A worker pushes a cart through shelves lined with goods at an Amazon warehouse in Brieselang, Germany. Some US authors have questioned Amazon’s tactics of delaying delivery of books and preventing pre-orders. Sean Gallup / Getty Images -
Amazon says e-books should cost less than traditional books because publishers do not have to pay to print, store and distribute physical objects. Sean Gallup / Getty Images -
Amazon has been accused of boycotting Hachette authors by refusing to accept pre-orders on their books and e-books, refusing to discount prices on their books and slowing book delivery. Sean Gallup / Getty Images
In pictures: In e-book price war between Amazon and publishers, authors are collateral damage
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