Money Matters, Simplified.
Google teams up with ODB to print digital books
by Jaspreet Virk - September 18, 2009 - comments
Google Books titles offered through ODB will be priced at $8, of which Google would keep $1, On Demand Books would get $1, and $3 would go to the retailer. The remaining $3 would cover the raw material and labor costs
New York, September 18 -- After almost seven years of scanning books, Google, in partnership with On Demand Books (ODB), will let readers access printed version of some digitized books.
Goggle will offer around 2 million non-copyrighted titles to ODB, which will use high-speed Espresso Book Machine for printing books. The Espresso Book Machine (EBM) can print professional quality paperback books in 5 to 10 minutes.
"We founded Google Books on the premise that anyone, anywhere, anytime should have the tools to explore the great works of history and culture," Google Books Product Manager Brandon Badger said in a blog post. "Reading digital books can be an enjoyable experience, but we realize that there are times when readers want a physical copy of a book."
Deal to revolutionize publishing industry
Google Books titles offered through ODB will be priced at $8, of which Google would keep $1, On Demand Books would get $1, and $3 would go to the retailer. The remaining $3 would cover the raw material and labor costs.
On Demand Books will get to print these 2 million book titles in addition to 1.6 million it offers to bookstores, libraries, universities and other retailers. The Blackwell Bookshop in London, Bibliotheca Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, University of Michigan Shapiro Library Building in Ann Arbor, and Angus and Robertson Bookstore in Melbourne are using Espresso Book Machines.
“This is a revolutionary product,” said Dane Neller, chief executive and co founder of ODB.
“Instead of the traditional Gutenberg model of centrally producing, shipping and selling we sell first, then produce. In a matter of minutes you can get a paperback book identical to one you can get in a store at point of sale. It has the potential to change the publishing industry.”
On Demand Books may get access to print more books if Google book deal gets approval from the New York District Court in October.
Department of Justice to file concerns
The Department Of Justice, which was reviewing the book deal for any possible infringement of the anti-trust law, is expected to file its concerns to the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York today, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed people familiar with the matter.
The Justice Department is concerned that the deal could allow publishers to set high prices for their works.
Companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Yahoo have also raised objections to Google’s proposed book deal with publishers and authors, which would give Google the right to digitize books that are still in copyright protection but out of print.
The hearing on the proposed book settlement is scheduled for Oct. 7.