Amazon vs. Apple...A Battle for the Writes

With the expansion of technology come the battles to control the future. Recently I came across an article titled, “Amazon Threatens Publishers as Apple Looms” on the New York Times Website. It is about the fight between Amazon and Apple. Both are fighting for the rights to e-books. Since the arrival of the ipad Apple now has their hands in the pricing of e-books. Apple wants to require that “publishers not permit other retailers to sell any e-books for less than what is listed in the iBookstore” (the program that will be offered on the ipad). Amazon makes their money by selling books in bulk from publishers, then selling them at their own prices. However now, both Apple and Amazon want to control the pricing of the books offered by publishers. The conclusion that seemed to appear is apple will stay with the four large publishing companies and Amazon will keep contracts with the small. But this may not stay the way in the future as Apple hopes to expand to include the small companies.

Recently in class, we have been discussing freedom of speech and freedom of the press. How the government is regulating the press more and more today. I couldn’t help but think of what our founding fathers would think when they heard about the argument between companies fighting over e-book rights. I do not think they thought of how much the press would really expand. In the textbook by Croteau and William Hoynes it discusses the concentration of ownership of book publishers. They are becoming more and more concentrated. If this continues to be that case, how do Apple and Amazon expect to keep control of many companies if there are only a few powerful ones?

So where does this lead the consumer? Well for one, I know I along with many buy textbooks off of Amazon, because of their great prices. However, they are threatening to not allow anyone to buy from their site until they reach a common agreement with publishers. But, it also helps out Apple lovers out there, because Apple is setting up relations with book publishers. I’m sure we can all expect to see a price differential in the e-books we buy, until an agreement is made between Apple, Amazon and book publishers. With three powerful companies trying to make an agreement that everyone is happy, may be harder then it seems, but hopefully it comes sooner rather than later.