Connecticut House approves bill placing limits on library e-book contracts
15 May 2025 (CT Mirror)
The bill would only go into effect if one or more states with a total or combined population of 7 million enact similar laws.
Amazon trims jobs in devices and services unit
15 May 2025 (Reuters)
Amazon trimmed some Alexa-related jobs in 2023 and has been conducting small cuts to various groups in recent months.
February Ebook and Audiobook Sales Are Up
14 May 2025 (Publishing Perspectives)
Digital audio comprised 17.2 percent of total fiction sales—a 16.6-percent increase year-over-year, and a 22.1-percent increase year-to-date: substantial advances. Also in the digital area, ebook sales in adult titles rose 11.4 percent in February and 7.8 percent year-to-date. (From the AAP StatShot Report)
Ingram Appoints AI Chief
14 May 2025 (Publishers Weekly)
Ingram Content Group has appointed Dr. Rajen Bhatt to the newly-created position of director of AI. In his new role, Bhatt will oversee efforts to integrate AI across Ingram.
The Swedish Competition Authority approves Storytel Group’s acquisition of Bokfabriken
13 May 2025 (TradingView)
Audible Opens AI-Narration to Selected Publishers
13 May 2025 (Publishing Perspectives)
Selected publishers are working with an early release of Audible’s AI-voiced audiobook production, with translation and accents to follow.
Investors back start-ups aiding copyright deals to AI groups
13 May 2025 (Financial Times)
Fledgling groups such as Pip Labs, Vermillio, Created by Humans, ProRata, Narrativ and Human Native are building tools and marketplaces where writers, publishers, music studios and moviemakers can be paid for allowing their content to be used for AI training purposes.
Spotify Could Bring Audiobook Sales to iPhone Users with External Links
11 May 2025 (No Musica)
This move comes after a ruling in the Epic Games v. Apple case, where Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in violation of a previous 2021 injunction. The judge ordered Apple to stop taking up to a 27% commission on purchases made through external links and to stop limiting how developers can direct users to make purchases outside of the App Store.
US “App Store Freedom Act” would force Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores, Sideloading and third-party payments on mobile devices… by default
7 May 2025 (TechSpot)
The bill also forbids platform owners from using nonpublic business information derived from developers’ apps to compete against those developers. Furthermore, it would prevent platform owners from restricting developers’ communication with users about business offers, provided user consent rules are followed.
E-Textbook Rental Market: U.S. Tariffs and Global Trade Breakdown
7 May 2025 (Market.US)
The global E-Textbook Rental Market is projected to grow from USD 554.7 million in 2024 to USD 4,578.5 million by 2034, reflecting a CAGR of 23.5%. North America led the market in 2024, capturing over 38% of the share, generating USD 210.7 million in revenue.
More ebook industry news (back to 2017)
