Haro against unlimited Kindle! – BBC

Launched by Amazon, unlimited subscription service seriously concerned about the letters from people of Society and the National Book Centre, but also large publishing houses.

The news is alarming, and the title is very explicit: “Following unlimited access: resolutely hostile LDMS.” It is written in big and bold. The Société des gens de lettres (LDMS) wanted to attract public attention and the world of books about the consequences of the new recently launched Amazon Kindle service christened Unlimited. This is an unlimited access to a supply of books against ten euros per month, a common practice in the music and in film.

But for LDMS, which represents authors and defends their rights This service involves “a revolution of values: those of the book of creation, and therefore the author.” The statement said that the known Unlimited access devices, primarily tested to date in the music industry, is extremely low finally paying for artists. “Now we do not know today the terms of remuneration of publishers in the service offered by Amazon, much less those of the authors,” is he said.

This is not the first time an initiative to Amazon provokes reactions of book professionals. We remember the controversy over free shipping, censorship made by the online merchant Hachette against the United States, but also the petition of 900 American writers who had published an open letter in the New York Times to denounce the hegemony of the US giant.

In France, even if the digital book market remains embryonic moment the LDMS is seriously concerned about the implications of access unlimited digital sales of printed books. Concern which also includes diffusion models of digital book library currently offered by publishers. ” And the Society of men of letters to be offended, “With Amazon, the question of the legality of such an offer: they are the unlimited subscription packages compatible with the law on the single price for digital books when ‘they are the work of a distributor and not a publisher? It seems not. “

The LDMS chaired by Marie Sellier, is not the only body to worry about. The National Book Centre, as well as publishers such as Hachette Books wonder about this offer unlimited service. To be continued.