Japanese publishing market still downsizing, but opportunity in ebooks and education
We have a new Japan Country Report, prepared by Norio Yamamoto, CEO of Chuokeizai-sha Inc.
Bookspotting app mobilises literature
With reading habits shifting online and onto portable devices, a new app has launched which uses GPS technology to tell book-lovers if they’re in the vicinity of classic scenes from literature.
“Absurd and dangerous”: Apple bans French novel because of its cover
The IPA has expressed serious concern about Apple’s decision to ban the sale of a French novel because of its cover art.
French publishers defend children’s book from politician’s attack
The French publishing industry has rallied to the defence of children’s literature after a leading politician publically attacked a children’s book.
“Books are key!” Authors, publishers and booksellers launch a joint manifesto for the European elections
The European Writers’ Council, the Federation of European Publishers and the European Booksellers Federation today launched a joint manifesto for the 2014 European Parliament elections.
“We are perceived as dinosaurs… relics from another era”. How to change publishing’s image problem?
Publishing needs to face up to to its image problem, IPA President YS Chi said during a speech to the UK Publishers International Conference in London.
“In the digital age, we are perceived as relics from another era. No longer guardians of culture, we are now greedy gatekeepers of knowledge.” This perception stems from the fact that “the majority of people do not know what publishers actually do.”
IPA Congress, Bangkok: Postponed to 2015
Due to the continued political turmoil in Thailand, the 30th IPA Congress, due to take place in Bangkok on 25-27 March 2014, has been postponed to 24-26 March 2015.
EU copyright reform: publishers, it’s time to give your views!
The European Commission is planning to modernize the EU copyright framework “to remove current obstacles, promote rapid digital developments and make copyright fit for the digital age”.
In order to decide how to proceed, they have launched a public consultation, open until 5 March 2014.
IPA protests “unjust detention” of Yao Wentian. 73 year-old publisher in custody for producing critical book about China’s president
The IPA calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately release Yao Wentian, a 73 year-old publisher who has been detained without trial since October.
IPA endorses Thema, new international subject category standard for books and ebooks
With publishers keen to boost the “discoverability” of their works and a growing realisation of the power of metadata to improve merchandising, sales and market intelligence, the International Publishers Association today officially announced its support for the THEMA scheme, a new international subject category standard for books and e-books.