Developments in the U.K. and Germany Target Google's AI-Generated Summaries - Publishing Perspectives

At the Publishing Perspectives site Panzer found a post about Google's summaries feature.

 

According to the post, both the U.K. and Germany are taking aim at implementing controls on Google's summaries feature, but for different reasons and with different methods. Links to other sources are included in the post.

 

Panzer says, "It always seems like Europe beats the U.S. in doing what needs to be done." 

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's snack. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Google Summaries 

Sourcebooks Takes Bloom Books Romance into Germany and Brazil - Publishing Perspectives

I didn't know they were big romance markets.

Today, Panzer found a post about Sourcebooks expansion into new romance book markets.

 

According to Porter Anderson's post, Sourcebooks is expanding into Germany and Brazil using Penguin Random House's (PRH) companies in those countries for translation and distribution. The post includes several links to other posts with more information about other aspects of the companies involved in the expansion.

 

Panzer says, "When you're a big company like PRH with subsidiaries in other countries expanding is easy, low cost, and makes sense." 

Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

To read the post tootle over to Sourcebooks Expansion

Amazon Faces Fresh Clampdown With Germany and UK Security - Bloomberg

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Bloomberg site. With a little digging in the posts there our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon.

 

Let's see what they do.

According to the post by Stephanie Bodoni and Katharine Gemmell, Amazon is now being scrutinized by Germany and the UK for signs of anti-competitive behavior. Germany's Federal Cartel Office and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority join the EU's European Commission in investigating Amazon.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This should be interesting to watch what happens."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon and German Regulator

A Sudden Reversal: Leipzig Book Fair Is Cancelled - Publishing Perspectives

Today as Panzer entered the Catosphere he heard crying and the gnashing of teeth. Following all the angst, took our brave kitty boy to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about the Leipzig Book Fair in Germany was causing all the upset.

 

I'm tired of it. Are you?

According to Porter Anderson's post, the Leipzig Book Fair is cancelled. The Book Fair was scheduled to run from March 17 to 20. Information about the cancellation lists exhibitors' staff shortages due to the pandemic as the major cause. This is the third time the Fair has been cancelled.

Panzer says, "That Covid-19 thingy is still causing problems."

 

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post with several links to other information. Bring a thermos of cocoa and at least six muffins for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Leipzig Book Fair

Amazon Publishing's Eoin Purcell: 'Surprise Books' and Other Pandemic Effects - Publishing Perspectives

Today Panzer made a stop at the Publishing Perspective site. There with a little digging in the posts he found one about Amazon Publishing.

 

The post by Porter Anderson is a long interview with Amazon Publishing's Eoin Purcell. The post is divided into five sections. Each section discusses a separate part of publishing. The first section addresses how authors have adapted to the pandemic. The second section addresses the intensity of readers and listeners during the pandemic. The third section addresses  publishing books for global and local readers. The fourth section addresses giving book translators credit. The fifth and final section addresses the cultural nuances necessary in books. The post includes information about Amazon Publishing's markets in the U.K. and Germany. There are several links included in the post.

 

Panzer says, "There's a lot of interesting information in the post."

 

I can sleep anywhere.

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, you will need to decided what refreshments and sleeping accommodations you will need to bring with you.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon's Eoin Purcell

 

Frankfurter Buchmesse Reports 73,500 Attendees From 105 Countries - Publishing Perspectives

 Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. With just a little digging in the posts there, our illustrious kitty discovered one about the 2021 Frankfurt Book Fair.

 

According to Anderson Porter's post, the Frankfurt Book Fair was well attended this year. 73,500 attended the in-person and online Book Fair. There were 2,013 exhibitors.

 

That's a large attendance.

Panzer says, "Because of travel restrictions it was the right idea to include online access."

 

Note: This is a very long post. Bring a thermos of tea, two muffins, two brownies, and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Frankfurt Book Fair

Sweden's BookBeat Rides High on the Pandemic's Audiobook Boom - Publishing Perspectives

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Since our traveling kitty boy is getting really, really tired of hearing only bad news every day, he followed all the jocularity outside to the Publishing Perspectives site.There he discovered a post about the Swedish audiobook listening app BookBeat.

Are you tired of this virus thingy too?

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Sweden's BookBeat subscriber numbers are skyrocketing on the heels of the coraonavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Because of the pandemic lockdowns, people in Finland and Germany are flocking to the BookBeat subscription service app for their audiobook entertainment. BookBeat is a smartphone app for listening to audiobooks. The company's subscriber number has now hit 300,000 and is projected to continue to rise as the pandemic and lockdowns drag on. The last part of the post discusses the lack of commute time because of the lockdowns. This change in commute time has led to the loss of listeners for podcasts as listeners switch to audiobooks.

Panzer says, "MeWoW! 300,000! That's a lot of listeners!"

Note: This is a humongous length post. Bring a gallon of tea and twelve muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to BookBeat

Coronavirus: Germay Is To Follow Italy in Potential Bookstore Openings - Publishing Perspectives

What do you think? Too soon? Just right?

Today, Panzer made a quick stop at the Publishing Perspective site. There with some digging in the posts he found one about the limited re-opening of Germany's bookstores.

According to a post by Porter Anderson, Germany is easing coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions by allowing small bookstores to open again. There are some restrictions on the bookstore patrons, such as social distancing will still be in place in the store. Germany is following Italy's relaxing of restrictions on bookstores.

Panzer says, "This is also a report about Covid-19 in Europe; so other news continues after the German bookstore announcement."

Note: This is a very long post. If you plan to only read about German bookstores, bring a cup of tea and a muffin. If, however, you plan to read the whole post, bring a quart of tea and four muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Germany's bookstores

Germany's Publishing Revenue Rises 1% in 2016 - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty found a post about the state of the German book market.

The figures don't look good to me.

According to Ed Nawotka's post, Germany's total 2016 book sales revenue figures are now available. The total 2016 revenue rose just 1 percent compared to 2015. The biggest increase for the period was in children's book sales at 9 percent. Ebook sales, however, were nearly even for the time period having only risen .1 percent. Book translations did show a rise for the period from 12.4 percent in 2015 to 13.6 in 2016. There are graphs and charts to illustrate the percentages in book publishing numbers, genres and revenues.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Ebook sales were flat?"

Note: With the charts and graphs this is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Germany's publishing

Amazon Publishing's Newest Imprint Makes Its Debut in Germany - Publishing Perspectives

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishing Perspectives site. There our meandering kitty found a post about Amazon's APub division.

I learn something new every day.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Amazon Publishing Europe announced their new German language publishing imprint Tinte and Feder. The Tinte and Feder imprint will publish historical and contemporary fiction German authors. Tinte and Feder joins Amazon's German language mystery publishing imprint Edition M.

Panzer says, "I didn't know Amazon had a publishing division in Europe."

Note: This is a shortish-long post. Bring a cup of tea, a muffin and a cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon publishing

Union calls new strikes at Amazon's German warehouses -Yahoo! Finance

Back to my nap now.

Panzer was shaken awake from his evening nap by loud noises coming from the Catosphere. Following all the hullabaloo our tired little kitty found himself at the Yahoo! Finance site. There he discovered a post about Amazon.

According to the post from the Reuters news feed, the German union Verdi is telling workers at three of Amazon's warehouses to go on strike now until December 24. The union wants reclassification and pay increases for their members working in Amazon's German warehouses.

Panzer says, "I hope this strike doesn't mess up Santa's Christmas cat toy deliveries!"

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

To read the post, tootle over to Amazon

German cabinet agrees to extend fixed prices to e-books - Reuters

Panzer is still sneezing and sniffling so it was a short trip into the Catosphere today. With a box of tissues on the seat next to him, our kitty boy stopped in at the Reuters site.

According to a post there by Maria Sheahan (edited by Hugh Lawson), Germany's cabinet has extended a law on the pricing of paper books to include ebooks. Where ever the ebook retailer is located, the price will be fixed in Germany for German buyers. It has already been ruled in Germany that some of Amazon's discounts to buyers are illegal, so this new law will further hamstring the retailer's efforts to increase sales there.

There just might be a loop hole there.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The Reuters post makes reference to German language books. ... Does that mean, if they're English language books, they're not covered under the law? Inquiring cats want to know."

Note: Today's read will only need one cup of tea.

To read the post, tootle over to Germany

Apple and Amazon Audiobooks Agreement Under Investigation In Germany

Panzer was enjoying a quiet trip in the Catosphere today when our kitty boy decided to stop in at the Yahoo! Finance site. There he found some interesting news about Amazon and Apple.

We'll have to watch this.

According to a post from Reuters, German Federal Cartel Office chief Andreas Mundt says the organization is investigating Amazon and Apple's dealings in Germany. The investigation will center around Amazon's Audible selling audiobooks to Apple's iTunes. According to complaints filed earlier by German booksellers, Amazon, Audible and iTunes control 90 percent of the audiobooks market in Germany. The agreement between the companies will be at the center of the investigation.

Note: This is a one cup of tea post.

To read the post, tootle over to Apple Amazon Audiobooks

How German Publishers Deal with Amazon - Publishers' Weekly

Tolino? Who knew?

Panzer was in the Catosphere today visiting some of his favorite sites. Our inquisitive kitty stopped in at the Publishers' Weekly site. After doing some digging around in there he found an interesting post from a couple of days ago about Amazon.

According to a post by Andrew Albanese, Amazon's Kindle ereader is not the market leader in Germany that it is in the United States. The Tolino ereader is. The Tolino has been around since 2013 and has managed to develop a large footprint in Germany. Combined sales of the several Tolino ereader models have 45 percent of the market there. Most of the post consists of an interview with the Chairman of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association Heinrich Riethmuller.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. Did Amazon make a misstep in Germany?"

Note: A cup of tea should be enough for reading this post.

To read the post, tootle over to German publishers

German Publisher Buys eBookstore, Plans Flat-Rate eBook Service

How do I get my ebooks in the service?

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere and stopped in at the Ink, Bits & Pixels site at The Digital Reader.

There he found a post about German publisher Bastel Lubbe. The publisher will be entering into the paid subscription ebook market. There will be two services offered. One is a monthly paid service. The second is an ad-supported service.

Panzer says, "There's a lot of competition in the paid subscription market."

To read the post, tootle over to German Publisher Buys eBookstore, Plans Flat-Rate eBook Service

Kobo Self-Publishing In France, Germany and Italy

Europe, here I come.

Panzer was out in the Catosphere today and he found a site called Publishing Perspectives.

My big bad kitty adventurer found a post by Olivia Snaije about Kobo in Europe. Ms. Snaije addresses Kobo's efforts to help self-publishing authors in France, Germany and Italy achieve success. According to the post, Kobo helps authors understand the importance of marketing and advertising. They also work with authors who have their work translated with marketing using their Kobo Next page.

Panzer says, "Makes me wish I was a European kitty so I could get all that extra help."

To read the post, tootle over to Kobo publishing (Be advised this page can be slow loading. So just try again.)