Apparently the CEO of Macmillan Publishers decided to swipe two Google laptops from Google's booth at BookExpo America, wait for Google employees to notice the missing laptops (took about an hour) and then claim that he was just giving Google "a taste of their own medicine."

Just as Google is making it even more obvious how their book scanning project is helping publishers by helping them sell more books, it appears that at least one publisher doesn't seem to understand the difference between helping more people find your books and theft. Apparently the CEO of Macmillan Publishers decided to swipe two Google laptops from Google's booth at BookExpo America, wait for Google employees to notice the missing laptops (took about an hour) and then claim that he was just giving Google "a taste of their own medicine." Let's see. One is taking an expensive scarce item. The other is building an index so more people can find books. If Macmillan's CEO really thinks that's the same medicine, than someone ought to check what medication he's taking.
www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/04/book_publisher_google_laptop/

I personally would not open myself up to litigation/prosecution and openly brag about it on my blog, if I were the CEO of a big company. What do you guys think?

Post edited by: stevenl, at: 2007/06/07 11:23

I just suggested we move the discussion from the comment stream on this aricle page:

www.smallpressexchange.com/the_news/breaking_news/book_publisher_steals_google_laptops_20070607930/

To the forums (easier to elaborate and quote, etc). It's a neat issue. Discuss!

These publishers do have a point. Whether or not Google actually helps the sellers sell more is irrelevant - it's not their choice to make. The book publishers own the IP, and can quite rightfully decide how it is used. It's a great stunt.

Post edited by: anthrasula, at: 2007/06/07 12:56

I think what is truly at issue is that ublishers used to have exclusive access to the ink and the printing presses. Now, the competition is coming at old established publishing houses from every direction.

Google is just the biggest wolf in the pack it goes without saying that (like the music business) the industry will be changed forever.

Wait until an IPOD-like device comes out for books and redefines the marketplace!

Exaclt, rkelly. This CEO was just complaining that "opt out" consent, isn't the fair way to do business. H

e tried to prove that point by saying that since google did not opt out of getting their stuff taken then it is fine to take their stuff.

I am not saying what he did was right, but he wasn't just being spiteful — but he does prove a point, no?

rkelly wrote:
Wait until an IPOD-like device comes out for books and redefines the marketplace!

Hey rkelly — that's already happened, but it hasn't excactly revolutionized the industry!



From Conde Nast Treveler:

www.concierge.com/cntraveler/blogs/80days/2007/05/gear_review_son.html

Here's a quote:

When the Sony Reader appeared on store shelves last September, it didn't make the kind of splash a lot of people expected, and in the months since it hasn't sent waves rippling through the industry. Tech reviewers were less than whelmed by the Readers feature set--no backlighting, no search, no annotation, no wireless web streaming--and they considered the price, $350, to be way too high. Literary types, on the other hand, dismissed the Reader in a rather haughtier manner. They saw it not only as a poor substitute for a book, but as a threat to the hallowed tradition of "the book," another broadside from the over-stimulated, attention-deprived, caffeinated present on the deep-thinking and ever-threatened literary tradition.

Still looks pretty cool though!

Post edited by: dsendecki, at: 2007/06/07 14:09