Amazon Says It is Not a 'Lawless' Retail Platform As Charged by 'NYT' - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer decided to make a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our curious kitty boy found one about Amazon.

This is a forever fight.

According to a staff written post at the Publishers Weekly site, in response to a New York Times article Amazon is vehemently denying the company doesn't seriously pursue counterfeit books. In the rebuttal Amazon says the company has spent $400 million toward stopping the practice. Authors counter it takes Amazon too long to respond to the counterfeit books problem when it's discovered, if the company ever does. There's a link included in the post to The New York Times post about Amazon and a link to Amazon's blog post in response to The New York Times post.

Panzer says, "What's a counterfeit book? Somebody steals an author's book, puts a different name and cover on it and sells it.  By the time Amazon does anything about it, the author has lost hundreds (or maybe thousands) of dollars in book sales."

Note: This is a short-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the Publishers Weekly post, bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Microsoft eBook Refunds Are Coming in July - The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the noise, our inquisitive kitty found himself at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging he found a post about the Microsoft ebookstore and the ebook rebates. Panzer told you about the Microsoft ebookstore's closing back in April.

It's about time.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, an email sent out by Microsoft says the official closing of the Microsoft ebookstore will be in July. Users won't be able to access their ebooks after the beginning of July. The email also says users will receive refunds in July for the ebooks they purchased and can no longer access. There's a link in the post to the Microsoft FAQ for information about the closing and refunds.

Panzer says, "It took long enough for them to start the refund process. Human's just don't understand cats have no patience. We want it now."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading. If you plan to follow the link for the FAQ, bring another cup of tea and two muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Microsoft refund

To read the post about the Microsoft ebookstore's closing, tootle over to Microsoft ebookstore

The Netherlands' NL Film Signs Development Partnership With Canada's Wattpad - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer was shaken awake from his nap by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile, our sleep-deprived kitty followed all the noise to the Publishing Perspectives site. With a little digging he found a post about Canadian company Wattpad Studios.

According to Publishing Perspective's Editor-in-Chief Porter Anderson, Wattpad Studios and the Netherlands' NL Film have announced a new partnership. Wattpad Studios is Wattpad's books to screen division. Under the agreement NL Film will have first rights to YA literature in the Dutch language which the company deems suitable for screen (movie/tv) development. The post includes links to previous Publishing Perspective posts about Wattpad.

Don't wake me until tomorrow.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks Wattpad fills a niche Amazon hasn't managed to take over yet."

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of tea and a half dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring two gallons of tea and three dozen muffins

To read the post tootle over to Wattpad

A New Panzerism

Panzer on statistical analysis:

It's pretty easy to tell when information supplied as fact is incorrect.

Now take for example, Mom's statement, "The average cat sheds his body weight in loose hair each month."

Average? You maybe. Not me.*

Obviously ...

This is not true.

There is no such thing as an average cat ...

All cats are way, way above average.


* From Cat Wisdom for humans

Barnes & Noble Reports Revenue Down 3% for the Year, Nook Revenue Down 17% - The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to stop in at The Digital Reader site. With hardly any digging at all our speedy kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Barnes and Noble announced the company's sales and revenue for the just ended fiscal year. This fiscal year's total sales declined over the previous year by 3 percent. Nook revenue made the biggest decline at 17 percent. The exact sales and revenue figures are included in the post.

What will happen to the Nook?

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't know if Barnes and Noble's new owner will want to continue the Nook."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

F+W Media To Present Winning Community Bids to Bankruptcy Court - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site today. With just a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about F+W's bankruptcy. Panzer told you about the bankruptcy news a few days ago.

According to Publishing Perspectives Editor-in-Chief Porter Anderson, F+W Media has presented the winning bids to the court for each of the company's online communities in its bankruptcy filing. One of the ten online communities is the Writing Community. The post includes a list of the winning and second highest bidders for each community. Also included is information about the winning bidders.

Does it include names and email addresses?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty wants to know what the winning bidders are going to do with the community information."

Note: This is a medium-long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to F+W Media bankruptcy

To read Panzer's previous post about F+W Media tootle over to Penguin Random House

With No New Bid, Elliott's Offer for B&N Stands - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was cleaning the Panzermobile when he happened to find a post wadded up in the beverage holder. Smoothing it out our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post about Barnes and Noble. Panzer told you about the Barnes and Noble company sale a few days ago.

According to Jim Milliot, the bid to buy Barnes and Noble submitted by Elliott Advisors will proceed. In the acquisition Elliott Advisors will pay shareholders $6.50 per share to obtain full ownership of the company. The sale is expected to be finished in the third quarter.

What will happen to author's ebooks?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I guess it's official now. ... Barnes and Noble will have new owners. ... But ... What will happen to Nook and the online ebooks store?"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

To read Panzer's post about Elliott's offer tootle over to Barnes and Noble sale

A New Panzerism

Panzer on magical powers:

Once a day with eyes closed ...

Concentrate real hard ...

Then open eyes ...

After all that I need a long nap.*

And the sun comes up!

MeWOW!

I did it again!

This being the Center of the Universe with everybody depending on me each day is hard work.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Happy Fathers Day

Dispute Arises Over 'No-No Boy,' a Classic of Asian-American Literature With a Complex History - The New York Times

Today, Panzer was shaken from his nap by booing and hissing coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our brave kitty pilot followed all the noise to The New York Times site. There he found a post about Penguin Random House's Penguin Classics.

According to Alexandra Alter, there's a publishing disagreement between Penguin Random House's Penguin Classics and Shawn Wong, a University of Washington professor, the John Okada estate and the University of Washington Press. The disagreement surrounds Penguin Classics new publication of John Okada's 1957 novel No-No Boy. The novel a Japanese-American man who refused to serve in the US military in WWII. Shawn Wong believes his 1976 copyright of the Okada novel (and subsequent transfer of the copyright to the University of Washington Press) prevents Penguin Classics from publishing the novel. Penguin Classics believes that copyright only covers portions of the novel and they can publish the remainder of the novel. Penguin published the novel in May.

Hearing even more booing and hissing, our kitty boy traveled on to The Seattle Times site. With no digging at all he found a post there about the disagreement too.

According to The Seattle Times' Moira Macdonald, Penguin Random House has now contacted the Okada estate. The estate representative, however, is not interested in dealing with Penguin at this time. The University of Washington has paid the Okada estate royalties for the novel since it was published by them. Penguin has made no such offer. Several Seattle bookstores have pledged not to sell Penguin Classics' version of  No-No Boy. Several well-know authors have also voiced their disapproval of Penguin's actions.

I'm serious. Don't buy Penguin's version..

Panzer says, "Under no circumstances will this little kitty ever buy a copy of Penguin Classics' No-No Boy."

Note: The New York Times post is long. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. The Seattle Times post is also long. Bring another cup of tea and two muffins to read it too.

To read The New York Times post tootle over to No-No Boy

To read The Seattle Times post tootle over to John Okada's No No Boy

 

HarperCollins unveils 'dynamic' new digital-first division One More Chapter - The Bookseller

Today as Panzer entered the Catosphere he felt the Panzermobile start to reverberate from all the clapping and cheering coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our brave kitty pilot to The Bookseller site. There with a little digging in the posts he discovered the one about HarperCollins that was causing all the noise.

Hmm ... Ebook format only. Interesting.

According to Heloise Wood, HarperCollins (yes, that is the correct way to write it) has gathered the company's three digital publishing divisions together under one new brand called One More Chapter. Charlotte Ledger will be the editorial director of the new division. Chosen submissions will appear in ebook format only first. There's an email address included in the post to contact the new division about submissions.

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the Comments section. There's only one there, but it has a lot of important questions."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) and a cup of lemonade for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to HarperCollins

Harlequin Unveils New Film/TV Arm - Publishers Weekly

Harlequin Romance Movies?

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Publishers Weekly site. There with no digging at all he discovered a post about publisher Harlequin.

According to Rachel Deahl, romance publisher Harlequin has announced the formation of a new company division called Harlequin Studios. Publisher Harlequin has rights to 30.000 books available for Harlequin Studios. Harlequin Studios has already contracted for 20 tv movies.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks Harlequin Studios wants to give Hallmark Channel some competition in the romance genre. What do you think?"

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Harlequin

Penguin Random House Buys F+W Media's Books at Auction - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer was tootling around in the Panzermobile in the Catosphere when he heard crying and whining outside. Following all the noise took our brave kitty to the Publishing Perspectives site. With a little digging in the posts he discovered one about F+W Media's Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

I don't care what they say. It won't be the same.

According to Publishing Perspective's Editor-in-Chief Porter Anderson, Penguin Random House has announced through a press release the company's acquisition of F+W Media's publishing assets through a bankruptcy auction. The publishing assets include F+W Books. F.W Books has over 2,000 nonfiction books which includes Writer's Digest Books as well as other crafts and arts books. Later this week (June 13) will be the auctioning of F+W Communities by the bankruptcy court. This will include the magazines, webinars, and other forms of communications. The post includes a link to an earlier post about F+W Media and links to information about some of F+W's books.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders if the writers of all those books will still get their royalties on time?"

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you follow the links included in the post, bring another cup of tea and another muffin. Oh, and, if you have been a reader of Writer's Digest books or magazine, you might want to bring a hankie for your tears at the passing of a long time writers' friend.

To read the post tootle over to Penguin Random House

A New Panzerism

Panzer on Spring flowers:

What's His Name bought Mom some red roses today.

Mom said she loves them.

Watch out for the thorns.

Roses are okay I guess ...

But ...

A dozen roses don't look like much ...

When you rip off all those bright red petals.

Equity Firm Agrees to Buy B&N - Publishers Weekly

Panzer decided to make a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site today. With no digging at all our adventuresome kitty boy found a post about Barnes and Noble.

According to the Publishers Weekly post by Jim Milliot, Barnes and Noble has agreed to an acquisition by the equity firm Elliot Advisors. The purchase will close in the third quarter of this year. James Daunt will then become CEO. The equity firm has also announced that after the acquisition the Barnes and Noble headquarters will stay in New York. Barnes and Noble sales declined recently. The company has tried various efforts to turn sales around ranging from opening new eating venues in the stores to changing CEOs. The company is in the midst of a lawsuit and counter suit with the last CEO, Demos Parneros.

Guess I'll have to find another online store.

Panzer says, "Umm ... This might not be good news for this little kitty. There's no mention of Barnes and Noble's online store or the Nook ereader. Most of my ebook sales are through Barnes and Noble's online store."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

To read the post about the Demos Parneros lawsuit tootle over to Parneros lawsuit

Canadian Publishing Reacts to New 'Industry Committee' Copyright Report - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer had hardly entered the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken by shock waves from clapping and cheering. Following the cacophony took our brave kitty to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about the new Canadian Copyright Report.

Stealing is stealing no matter who you are.

According to Porter Anderson, the Canadian Industry Committee released their copyright report today to be considered in conjunction with the May Heritage Committee's copyright report. Both reports address the effects writers and artists of all kinds have suffered since the 2012 Copyright Modernization Act. Educators and students began taking advantage of unforeseen impacts by copying and scanning materials without the copyright holders knowledge and/or permission and without payment. The post includes links to previous posts with other information about the Copyright Act and last month's Heritage Committee report.


Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe now the Canadian government will also take a look at a certain US copyright infringer that calls itself a library."

Note: This post is super h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s in length. Bring a gallon of iced tea and two dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring an extra thermos of tea and an extra dozen muffins. Oh, you'll also need your sleeping bag for a nap in the middle of your reading experience.

To read the post tootle over to Copyright Report

To read Panzer's previous post about book scanning by the US library tootle over to Author Groups Protest Library Scanning

Licensing Expo 2019: Publishers Hunt New Revenue Streams - Publishers Weekly

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to make a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There with no digging at all our speedy kitty boy found a post about the 2019 Licensing Expo.

According to the post by Karen Raugust, publishers have decided the newest revenue stream for the books they publish is to sell licensing rights to the characters and brands in the books. The licensing rights can be used to produce board games, toys, workbooks, puzzles, and/or audio books. The post includes quotes from representatives of several children's book publishers.

Humans can do it? Then so can I.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty never thought about selling the rights to puzzles and stuff based on my books. Hey! Wait a minute! I can do it myself. I already do my calendars."

Note:This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to New Revenue Streams

At BookExpo: Sharjah Publishing City Signs Ingram Lightning Source - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer was shaken awake from his nap by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile our intrepid kitty traveler followed all the hubbub to the Publishing Perspectives site. There with only a little digging in the posts he found one about Ingram Lightning Source.

Their market share is getting bigger too.

According to Publishing Perspectives site owner Porter Anderson in an exclusive, Ingram Lightning Source announced an agreement to become a tenant in the Sharjah Publishing City. This will be a new Print on Demand (POD) location for Lightning Source and will allow for faster distribution to the Arab world and African markets from the company. The post not only covers the Ingram Lightning Source - Sharjah Publishing City agreement but also information on the Publishing City facilities and history.

Panzer says, "This opens a huge market for Ingram Lightning Source POD."

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring two thermoses of tea, two dozen muffins and you'll definitely need a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.

To read the post tootle over to Ingram Lightning Source

A New Panzerism

Panzer on clear thinking:

Humans make things too complicated.

They have all these names for what they call cat breeds:

There's Siamese, Persian, Abyssinian, Burmese ...

And on and on and on and on.

Humans just need to think like cats do.

Do you get it?

There are only two kinds of cats ...

One handsome cat

and ...

All the rest.