The nation’s infatuation with home economics is yet to peculate through to magazine racks, as key titles continue to struggle.
Publishing industry
Freed journo Laura Ling shopping for a book deal
Just a week after being freed from five months’ detention in North Korea, journalist Laura Ling is reportedly already shopping around a book proposal, alongside her equally famous sister Lisa Ling (of Oprah fame).
Publishing ban not expected to be lifted
Although the ALP conference has been largely stage managed, one thing is clear: if the government decides to lift the ban on the parallel importation of books, it will be strongly opposed, says Phillip Coorey.
Literature? What’s that got to do with the price of books?
In all the talk of the Productivity Commission and the price of publishing, we shouldn’t forget that a book is not a novel. We shouldn’t be focusing on the container, but the content.
Victorian government gets behind authors
Victorian Premier John Brumby, often regarded as a pro-market economic rationalist, has slammed the Productivity Commission’s call to end protection of the local book industry. In fact, it’s state policy.
The cultural cringe of publishing industry protectionism
Scrapping parallel import restrictions ruin the Australian publishing industry, says Tim Wilson: it will be killed by “cultural cringe” from authors and publishers who want to stop it being globally competitive.
Guy Rundle: Book parallel import restrictions a ludicrous anachronism
The “remainder” problem for Oz authors obviously has to be addressed — and it’s an area the Productivity Commission has barely addressed.
Pirated e-books: publishers only have themselves to blame
Book publishers are putting the pressure on Amazon to jack up the prices on their e-book titles, but once they stop being a bargain, it will only be a matter of time before people start sharing them illegally like mp3s, says Jack Shafer
Parallel importation: devilish Dymocks detail
Dymocks have led the charge to abolish the parallel import restrictions. But would this really make their books cheaper? asks Michael James.
Why I use Amazon: one reader’s story
With all this fuss about parallel importation and the death of the local book industry, I’m wondering if the cat isn’t out of the bag and halfway onto the neighbour’s roof already, writes Elizabeth Farrelly, Amazon user.
The future book industry: barns filled with remainders
The Productivity Commission is not interested in culture. Or writing. Or books, writes Sophie Cunningham.
Battle of the books turns political
The Productivity Commission has recommended the removal of parallel import restrictions on books. So the issue will be politicised. And the battleground is likely to be jobs.
Also on Crikey
Shane Maloney: I am a leech on my readers
Shane Maloney: I am a leech on my readers
If the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on parallel book imports are implemented, it would be an act of sheer vandalism on an otherwise healthy industry, writes author Shane Maloney.
PC goes all the way: Get rid of book restrictions
The Productivity Commission has found that parallel imports for books are significantly more costly than previously considered. Its final report recommends the restrictions be abolished.
MORE READING
- DAVID MARR: The Commission’s language problem
- Michael R James: Parallel this: Top Ten books compared
- BOB CARR: A win for Australian literacy
Readers have nothing to fear from the Productivity Commission
“The country’s most articulate lobby” they were called yesterday: the array of writers aligned against deregulation of Australia’s $2.5b book industry. Really? asks Bernard Keane.
Parallel this: Top Ten book prices compared
Many words have poured forth over the imminent decision by the Productivity Commission on parallel-importation of books into Australia. Michael R. James takes a look at the actual data.
Parallel importation of books: Cultural benefit vs consumer cost
The economic benefits of parallel book importation might kick in immediately, says Derek Barry, but the cultural consequences will take a lot longer to be felt.
Throw your arms around our books
Former head Hunter & Collector, Mark Seymour, has written a scathing indictment of the commercially-driven lobby to remove Australian literary copyright. Seymour knows whereof he speaks, writes WH Chong.
Print-on-demand: the future of bookstores?
A small-time bookstore in the US has become the country’s first to offer on-demand printing of any book from an online database. With book giants like Borders edging out smaller retailers, could this model be the saviour of indie book-sellers?
Oprah lets indie books into her club
Books from independent publishers are rarely anointed by the big O’s seal of approval, but in a recent list of recommended reading, Oprah gave the thumbs-up to titles like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and The Peep Diaries: How We’re Learning to Love Watching Ourselves and Our Neighbors.
Parallel importation of books: writers have their two bobs’
It’s been a thrilling week for literature in Australia, but the talk of the town is the impending final report to the Productivity Commission on copyright restrictions, says Crikey intern Bhakthi Puvanenthiran.
Talking the Town: Talking the town: the Australian Book Industry awards
Like Christmas in the trenches, all hostilities were suspended last night as the local book industry got together for the Australian Book Industry Awards.
When copyright is specious: Salinger and The Catcher
The dogmatic insistence that The Catcher in the Rye is a masterpiece beyond change, adulteration or imitation is naïve at best, disingenuous at worst, writes Binoy Kampmark.
JD Salinger sues copycat author
90-year-old author JD Salinger is taking legal action against the writer, publishers and distributor of an unauthorised sequel to his novel Catcher in the Rye
