Library Stuff

Jacket Copy – “If it’s up to Canadian booksellers, Amazon.com will be barred from opening on-the-ground operations in the country. “Individual Canadian booksellers have traditionally played a key role in ensuring the promotion of Canadian authors and Canadian culture,” Canadian Booksellers Assn. President Stephen Cribar said Monday. “These are values that no American dot-com retailer could ever purport to understand or promote.”

Reuters – “Fearing an apparent assault by Amazon.com on Canadian culture, the Canadian Booksellers Association is urging the federal government to block the U.S. Internet retailer from establishing a physical presence north of the border. Amazon.com has applied to the Heritage department for permission to establish its own fulfillment business here after using Canada Post for product delivery since 2002 to serve a Canadian version of its U.S. website, Amazon.ca.”

Guardian – “Writers hit by Amazon’s removal of their titles are cutting links to the online shop and calling on readers to boycott it”

NYT – “In a sign that Amazon wants to upgrade its Kindle e-reader to compete head-on with the Apple iPad, Amazon has acquired Touchco, a start-up based in New York that specializes in touch-screen technology, a person briefed on the deal said Wednesday.”

Reuters – “Amazon.com Inc will offer higher royalties on the discount books sold for its popular Kindle electronic reader in a move to boost profitability and preempt the anticipated entry of Apple Inc and Google into the e-book market.”

Newsweek – “No one has been more surprised by the success of the Kindle than Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The electronic book reader has become the online retailer’s bestselling product. Bezos spoke to NEWSWEEK’S Daniel Lyons about the device, how the Apple tablet might affect it, and the next phase of digital distribution.”

Bloomberg – “U.S. District Judge Denny Chin in New York yesterday rejected Amazon.com’s argument that the settlement is “doomed from the start and fails to satisfy even the low standard for preliminary approval.” He said Amazon.com can make its arguments during a Feb. 18 hearing to determine if the agreement should be granted final approval.”

Jacket Copy – “Amazon has agreed to pay $150,000 in a lawsuit filed by Justin Gawronski, who sued the online retailer after George Orwell’s novels “1984″ and “Animal Farm” were deleted from his Kindle, along with his homework. The money, after going to the law firm representing the teen, will be donated to charity. Gawronski had already been compensated for the loss — with a $30 gift certificate.”

More here, from AP

AP – “A high school student is suing Amazon.com Inc. for deleting an e-book he purchased for the Kindle reader, saying his electronic notes were bollixed, too.”

Read the complaint

NYTimes – “Last week, Jeffrey P. Bezos, chief executive of Amazon, offered an apparently heartfelt and anguished mea culpa to customers whose digital editions of George Orwell’s “1984” were remotely deleted from their Kindle reading devices.”