Google allows publishers to sell online access to their books through Book Search program
Google is allowing its "Book Search" partners in the United States and the United Kingdom to sell online access to their books. The initiative sets up a titanic battle with Amazon.com, which is also developing a program enabling publishers to sell online access to books.
In a March 10 e-mail to publishers already participating in its Book Search program, Google pitched the new initiative as a way for publishers to "earn more from your books."
Google says it will split the revenue with publishers, but it isn't yet saying what percentage publishers will get. Google is asking publishers to sign up for the program now, but undoubtedly publishers will be leery before Google says exactly what the terms will be.
"It's like Google is saying to book publishers, 'Give us all your properties, and when it's convenient for us, we'll let you know how much money you'll receive,'" one incredulous U.S. publisher said Friday afternoon.
Because selling online access to books would cannibalize sales of paper-bound books to some degree, Google seems to be promising publishers that it will deliver more impulse purchases than brick-and-mortar bookstores. And the program seems to promise better profit margins for publishers, freeing them from printing and distribution costs. For example, most publishers currently earn just 45 percent of a book's retail price, with the rest being split among bookstores, wholesalers, and distributors. Usually author royalties account for just a small fraction of that 45 percent.
Users of Google Book Search, previously known as "Google Print," will be offered online access to the books of publishers who sign up for the optional program. Publishers can choose which books they want to offer, and can experiment with the price.
Publishers can enable the feature now and set their prices, but since the program is still in development, Book Search users won't have online access to titles just yet.
"We'll be updating our Terms and Conditions for the Google Books Partner Program to reflect this new offering," said the message from Google's Book Search staff. Sometime in the next few weeks, publishers will be asked to review the amended terms and conditions form when they log into their accounts.
Google has more information posted here.
Publishers with questions or feedback can contact the program at books-support@google.com.
In a March 10 e-mail to publishers already participating in its Book Search program, Google pitched the new initiative as a way for publishers to "earn more from your books."
Google says it will split the revenue with publishers, but it isn't yet saying what percentage publishers will get. Google is asking publishers to sign up for the program now, but undoubtedly publishers will be leery before Google says exactly what the terms will be.
"It's like Google is saying to book publishers, 'Give us all your properties, and when it's convenient for us, we'll let you know how much money you'll receive,'" one incredulous U.S. publisher said Friday afternoon.
Because selling online access to books would cannibalize sales of paper-bound books to some degree, Google seems to be promising publishers that it will deliver more impulse purchases than brick-and-mortar bookstores. And the program seems to promise better profit margins for publishers, freeing them from printing and distribution costs. For example, most publishers currently earn just 45 percent of a book's retail price, with the rest being split among bookstores, wholesalers, and distributors. Usually author royalties account for just a small fraction of that 45 percent.
Users of Google Book Search, previously known as "Google Print," will be offered online access to the books of publishers who sign up for the optional program. Publishers can choose which books they want to offer, and can experiment with the price.
Publishers can enable the feature now and set their prices, but since the program is still in development, Book Search users won't have online access to titles just yet.
"We'll be updating our Terms and Conditions for the Google Books Partner Program to reflect this new offering," said the message from Google's Book Search staff. Sometime in the next few weeks, publishers will be asked to review the amended terms and conditions form when they log into their accounts.
Google has more information posted here.
Publishers with questions or feedback can contact the program at books-support@google.com.
posted by Steve Weber at 3/10/2006
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