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Abstract This paper argues that the evolution of e-book technology is related to the penetrating impact of networks and information technology on society. It defines the concept of e-book and describes some aspects of e-book technology. By focusing on book production processes, the paper examines what probable consequences the development of e-books and a global network economy will have for publishers and book industries. E-books, along with other electronic formats, will trigger major changes as the digital products and distribution channels will force the logic of the network economy on the book publishing industry.

Yochai Benkler, a Yale University law professor and author of the new book "The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom" (Yale University Press), has gone even farther: his entire book is available - free - as a download from his Web site. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people have accessed the book electronically, with some of them adding comments and links to the online version.

Google Books launched an initiative to help authors and publishers discover new audiences for books they've made available for free under Creative Commons (CC) licenses. Rightsholders who want to distribute their CC-licensed books more widely can choose to allow readers around the world to...

The uproar, including a lawsuit, over the removal of copies of 1984 and Animal Farm from Kindle devices comes as Amazon faces renewed e-book competition. Interesting article in terms of some of the issues discussed in the Thompson reading this week re the digital revolution and the publishing world.

The ebook market expand to children's books. It is a great business market.

"For the past five hundred years, humans have used print - the book and its various page-based cousins - to move ideas across time and space. Radio, cinema and television emerged in the last century and now, with the advent of computers, we are combining media to forge new forms of expression. For now, we use the word "book" broadly, even metaphorically, to talk about what has come before - and what might come next."

A proposed settlement between Google and book publishers and authors will give huge new advantages to students, minorities and disabled people, supporters said Thursday.

New E-Book Company to Focus on Older Titles

Book sellers are making the case that people are reading more because of e-books.

Digital authors don't have to wait for the publishing industry anymore.

Some useful information about ebooks

Another version of the ebook being released by Barnes and Noble, in association with Adobe's Digital Editions.

E-Books are getting hotter and hotter

Is the ebook market becoming saturated? As more companies invest in digital technologies, there seems to be growing concern that returns won't be what initially expected.

Comics going Digital, Worried about Paper versions

After a long hiatus, online bookseller Amazon is back trying to encourage us to read in a new way. Its Web site now features this description of its Kindle reading device: "Availability: In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available." This good news for consumers comes after the first batch of the devices sold out in just six hours late last year.