Copyright is a hotly contested issue facing both authors and the publishing industry, as rights holders work to strike a balance between safeguarding content and sharing it across a variety of platforms to reach as many readers as possible. In the era of digital publishing, ebook piracy, and open sharing authoring platforms, some industry response has been to tighten the reins … [Read more...] about Wattpad Announces Creative Commons Agreement
Cory Doctorow
The Power of Giving Books
An article in The Bookseller this week highlighted a program that distributes books to people who receive assistance at the food banks of two UK towns, demonstrating the power of books to restore a sense of wonder and community involvement. The program, a part of Booktrust known as National Book Start Week, put books into the hands of more than two thousand children who had … [Read more...] about The Power of Giving Books
Florida Principal Pulls the Plug on Doctorow
It's either yet another example of stupidity in public school administrations, or it's the most brilliantly subversive plot on the part of an adult in a long time. At Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida, an English teacher and the school librarian collaborated on a fun summer reading event. In addition to the typical summer reading lists high schoolers … [Read more...] about Florida Principal Pulls the Plug on Doctorow
eBook Review: Vintage Tomorrows by James H Carrott and Brian David Johnson
Verdict: 4.5 Stars Judging from how hard it is for an author to write and publish a book, it's quite possibly exponentially harder for two authors to write and publish a book. That difficulty might only be compounded when one of those authors is a historian and the other earns his keep as a futurist. In Vintage Tomorrows: A Historian and a Futurist Journey Through Steampunk … [Read more...] about eBook Review: Vintage Tomorrows by James H Carrott and Brian David Johnson
Cory Doctorow, eBook Piracy, and Dandelions
One of the most entertaining speakers at this year's TOC event--or any publishing event, for that matter--must be self-publishing expert and author Cory Doctorow. While also known for his work as the co-editor of BoingBoing.com, Doctorow's science fiction titles have made him both a beloved author and a major proponent of DRM-free content. Following his morning keynote, … [Read more...] about Cory Doctorow, eBook Piracy, and Dandelions
Digital Comic News: Special International Edition
Cory Doctorow says ownership is key: I'm paraphrasing here, but Doctorow, who has been right about a lot of things, has some things to say about digital comics in a video shot at New York Comic Con, including his opinion that readers should be able to buy digital comics and keep them: "You know, you buy the comic, and it looks like a purchase, right? There's a 'Buy' button, but … [Read more...] about Digital Comic News: Special International Edition
DRM, Compatibility, and Myth
To the average reader who owns a brand-specific device and only shops for books through the device’s parent company, concerns about things like cross-platform compatibility and DRM status might not really be on the radar. And for a large portion of the reading population, that may be the case; browse for a book on your favorite retailer’s site, click the Buy button, and wait … [Read more...] about DRM, Compatibility, and Myth