Comments on: Authors Guild to Kindle: Shut Up When You're Talking to Me

By: Amazon.com Tweaks Kindle Text-to-Speech | John Paczkowski | Digital Daily | AllThingsD

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:59:11 +0000

[...] than argue with the Authors Guild over the text-to-speech feature of its new Kindle 2 e-book reader, Amazon (AMZN) is modifying the device’s software to make it optional. Amazon announced the [...]

By: The Authors Guild vs. Kindle 2 — Could Users Be Held Liable? | Medialoper

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:38:11 +0000

[...] Authors Guild believes that Kindle 2’s text-to-speech (TTS) feature is an infringement of audiobook rights. In fact, the Guild contends that because of this new feature, every Kindle book sold is not only [...]

By: Authors Guild President: What, Then, of the Playing and Talking Machines? | John Paczkowski | Digital Daily | AllThingsD

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:06:56 +0000

[...] idea of derivative rights and royalties for text-to-speech “audio books” like those provided by Amazon’s Kindle 2 might seem ludicrous now, but will it seem ludicrous in a few years when the device’s now [...]

By: Daily Square — « Wordpress Lab

Daily Square — « Wordpress Lab — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:13:48 +0000

[...] Authors Guild to Kindle: Shut Up When You’re Talking to Me | | Digital Daily | AllThingsDJohn Paczkowski takes a swing at the Author’s Guild. Pretty much the general consensus is that AG really should be fighting better, smarter battles. [...]

By: Daily Square — title 3 « Wordpress Lab

Daily Square — title 3 « Wordpress Lab — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:13:28 +0000

By: Daily Square — Title 1 « Wordpress Lab

Daily Square — Title 1 « Wordpress Lab — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:17:12 +0000

By: Weekend Update, 02.15.09 | Beth Callaghan | Digital Daily | AllThingsD

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:12:37 +0000

[...] on mandatory furlough at any given time. And a longtime opponent of Amazon (AMZN), the trade group the Author’s Guild, has raised a new objection to the company’s business practices. The group contends that the [...]

By: The Daily Square - My Funny Valentine Edition | Booksquare

The Daily Square - My Funny Valentine Edition | Booksquare — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:04:46 +0000

[...] Authors Guild to Kindle: Shut Up When You?re Talking to Me | | Digital Daily | AllThingsDJohn Paczkowski takes a swing at the Author’s Guild. Pretty much the general consensus is that AG really should be fighting better, smarter battles. [...]

By: Mac Beach

Mac Beach — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:01:10 +0000

When I get my new Kindle I’m going to buy some books and leave the text-to-speech playing 24 hours a day, thus draining the last pennies from the publisher’s change purse. Those would be the pennies not already taken by the publisher’s lawyers when they come up with reasons NOT to do business in the modern world.

By: Only idiots like the Authors Guild could believe in this kind of crap @ Gear Box

Only idiots like the Authors Guild could believe in this kind of crap @ Gear Box — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:42:56 +0000

[...] John Paczkowski quotes from a press release from the Guild in a post today “[The Kindle's text-to-speech function] presents a significant challenge to the publishing industry,” the group said in a statement released Thursday. “Audiobooks surpassed billion in sales in 2007; e-book sales are just a small fraction of that. While the audio quality of the Kindle 2, judging from Amazon’s promotional materials, is best described as serviceable, it’s far better than the text-to-speech audio of just a few years ago. We expect this software to improve rapidly….we recommend that if you haven’t yet granted your e-book rights to backlist or other titles, this isn’t the time to start. If you have a new book contract and are negotiating your e-book rights, make sure Amazon’s use of those rights is part of the dialog. Publishers certainly could contractually prohibit Amazon from adding audio functionality to its e-books without authorization, and Amazon could comply by adding a software tag that would prohibit its machine from creating an audio version of a book unless Amazon has acquired the appropriate rights. Until this issue is worked out, Amazon may be undermining your audio market as it exploits your e-books.” [...]

By: Only idiots like the Authors Guild could believe in this kind of crap

Only idiots like the Authors Guild could believe in this kind of crap — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:26:20 +0000

[...] John Paczkowski quotes from a press release from the Guild in a post today “[The Kindle's text-to-speech function] presents a significant challenge to the publishing industry,” the group said in a statement released Thursday. “Audiobooks surpassed $1 billion in sales in 2007; e-book sales are just a small fraction of that. While the audio quality of the Kindle 2, judging from Amazon’s promotional materials, is best described as serviceable, it’s far better than the text-to-speech audio of just a few years ago. We expect this software to improve rapidly….we recommend that if you haven’t yet granted your e-book rights to backlist or other titles, this isn’t the time to start. If you have a new book contract and are negotiating your e-book rights, make sure Amazon’s use of those rights is part of the dialog. Publishers certainly could contractually prohibit Amazon from adding audio functionality to its e-books without authorization, and Amazon could comply by adding a software tag that would prohibit its machine from creating an audio version of a book unless Amazon has acquired the appropriate rights. Until this issue is worked out, Amazon may be undermining your audio market as it exploits your e-books.” [...]

By: The Daily Square - Slouching Toward Bethlehem Edition | Booksquare

The Daily Square - Slouching Toward Bethlehem Edition | Booksquare — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:14:13 +0000

By: Daily Square — Kung Fu fighting « Wordpress Lab

Daily Square — Kung Fu fighting « Wordpress Lab — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:05:29 +0000