Mar 12 2012
Monday News: Visa Responds to the Erotica Book Banning, Apple Says Kindle No Competitor
News
Visa responds to erotica authors and say that it isn’t imposing any kinds of restrictions on fiction:
Relevant to this situation, the sale of a limited category of extreme imagery depicting rape, bestiality and child pornography is or is very likely to be unlawful in many places and would be prohibited on the Visa system whether or not the images have formally been held to be illegal in any particular country. Visa would take no action regarding lawful material that seeks to explore erotica in a fictional or educational manner.
Your move Paypal.
Amazon is seeking to expand its original digital video offerings with television-type episodes:
The driving force behind these hires is Amazon Studios, which solicits screenplays, pitches and test movies from anyone on the web. This means that unlike Netflix, Amazon isn’t looking to compete with television cable channels in bidding on projects from established industry names; it’s doing something more homespun, closer to YouTube or (especially in its focus on animation) even Fox, but with a professional sheen.
Apple files a motion to dismiss in the civil suits alleging horizontal price fixing arguing that Kindle is not a competitor. Publishers all cry “noooo” as if Kindle isn’t even a competitor to Apple, it is hard to argue that Amazon is a monopolistic power dooming all of publishing.
“Nor does this ‘Kindle theory’ make sense on its own terms. For example, if Amazon was a ‘threat’ that needed to be squelched by means of an illegal conspiracy, why would Apple offer Amazon’s Kindle app on the iPad?
Of course, Apple doesn’t say why it won’t allow in app purchasing for Amazon apps or why it rejected a book for having a LINK to Amazon’s bookstore. That’s not anti competitive, right?
Wal-Mart has a new promotional site where people can offer up items to be placed on the Wal-mart shelves. I saw one author on Twitter campaigning for her book to be placed “on the shelf”.
Deals
There aren’t any new mainstream deals that I can find so this week I thought I would present twenty titles that are either free or under $2.99 in certain genres. This will include a number of self published titles and I can’t vouch for the quality of any of them. Today I am presenting twenty titles in the PNR/UF/SFF genre.
- Veiled Eyes by C L Bevill * $0 * A | BN | K | S <- the reviews say to not be afraid of the terrible cover
- Powerful Magic by Karen Whiddon * $0 * A | BN | K | S
- Promise by Kristie Cook * $0 * A | BN | K | S
- The Ghost Hunter by Lori Brighton * $0 * A | BN | K | S
- Eternal Eden by Nicole Williams * $0 * A | BN | K | S
- Justice Incarnate by Regan Black * $0 * A | BN | K | S
- Caged by Amber Lynn Natusch * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S <- YA. Looks like it might be for fans of Lilith Saintcrow.
- Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S <– YA but it looks pretty good. I bought it.
- The Pearl of Paradise by Jean Brashear * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Bridger by Megan Curd * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Sexy As Sin by Steena Holmes * $1.49 * A | BN | K | S
- Craved by Stephanie Nelson * $1.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Honor Bound by C.J. Archer * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Bound to the Prince by Deborah Court * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Gemini Moon by Elysa Hendricks * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H P Mallory * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- The Vampire King by Heather Killough-Walden * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Destiny Unchained by Leia Shaw * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- A Kingdom’s Possession by Nicole J. Persun * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
Send to Kindle
Mar 12, 2012 @ 12:27:50
“Your move Paypal.” heheheh.. Indeed.
Thank you for the deal links!
Mar 12, 2012 @ 12:35:25
Apple doesn’t (and never did) view Amazon as a threat in the ebook market? I laughed so hard! Prior to Agency pricing didn’t Amazon have something like 80% of the ebook market? And what was the latest number I saw, 60%? (*disclaimer: percentages are from memory and may be wrong). Any business competeing with that would view it as a threat, and be right to.
That statement is just silly. And I like how Jobs biography specifically talks about how to take Amazon down in the ebook market.
Anyway. Now I can happily spend some time looking at cheap non-Agency-6 books.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 12:46:21
Now, of course, the lawsuits and investigation are all over the news outlets, as are discussions about ebook prices in general. We’ve been talking about this for how long and finally the rest of the world is catching up. DA: Way ahead of the curve, as usual.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 12:46:32
Yes, making all the apps that had various outside buy links disable them is a sign of Apple’s openness and that they embrace competition.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 13:44:35
Another deal in this are: The first two volumes in L K Rigel’s Apocalypto series, Space Junque and Spiderwork are only $2.99 each. Fantasy-science fiction futuristic romances that I really liked. (I think there’s also an omnibus volume of all three books for something like six bucks). Most folks recognize the second book, as its cover was the subject of controversy a while back, when one of the major publishers tried to buy the image and then had it copied when the artist said no.
I never thought the PayPal thing was about Visa refusing service, but about chargebacks and the cost of doing business. Is Visa saying that they won’t be charging more to vendors that sell these books?
Apple’s shenanigans over ebooks just make me laugh. Not that I’m a big Amazon fan either. I just wish a company would try to get market advantage by providing reasonable prices, user-friendly ebooks, and good customer service. I’m such a Pollyanna.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 14:21:18
I agree, Sonoma, I never thought Visa was the problem, I thought the issue was chargebacks. I don’t recall anyone said that the credit card companies refused, just that they charged more. I don’t see anywhere in that letter where they denied that. As far as I know credit card companies have always charged higher fees for adult material. Seems the only question here is in the definition of adult.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 14:29:25
@SonomaLass:
Which store? I’ve wanted to pick those up and this is a great price. I’ve been searching Kobo but either it’s not there or their search engine really sucks…more than usual.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 14:30:23
I thought it was specific banking partners (not Visa) that PayPal worked with who had a problem with the specific content the Smashwords (etc.) banned?
Mar 12, 2012 @ 14:36:30
@MrsJoseph: Smashwords, Amazon & B&N (actually Smashwords and B&N has book 1 for $1.49), I don’t see them anywhere else…
Mar 12, 2012 @ 14:40:02
@MrsJoseph: Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LKRigel
Mar 12, 2012 @ 14:58:17
Thanks Brian and Moriah!
Off to go spend some money!
Mar 12, 2012 @ 15:20:07
Thanks to all for mentioning Space Junque. Wonder of wonders, B&N actually had it, and at the sale price.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 19:22:18
I followed the link regarding the Visa/PayPal/erotic books issue and then went to the PayPal blog that the Visa guy referred to in his letter. Now I’m really confused. The problem is that the books in question might contain images?? Isn’t there a fairly easy solution then? – Make sure the only image (which I would think would be the cover) is not explicit. Problem solvered.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 21:04:56
Sounds like Smashwords, at least, is getting this sorted out. They’re going back to their pre-panic system, apparently:
http://www.smashwords.com/about/beta
Mar 12, 2012 @ 21:10:01
I think in other commentary on this I read that smashwords, in their press release (possibly the 2nd one?) Said that paypal had indicated they were being pressured by the credit card companies.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 23:56:27
Apple isn’t providing serious competition in the e-book market. They’ve stuck some books on the iPad the way a grocery store has a shelf or two of books.
Mar 13, 2012 @ 01:06:10
So Apple embraces competition. That’s funny.
Mar 13, 2012 @ 18:14:29
Just got an update from Smashwords that Paypal has relented. SMashwords is going back to its previous TOS from February.
Part of the email sent to me.