It's impossible to know the impact the DOJ's decision to bring a lawsuit against Apple and five publishers for price fixing will have on the book business, but this is, no doubt, the precursor of great changes. Three of the publishing houses have settled:
Justice Dept. sues Apple and Publishers Over E-Book Pricing
Cut in E-Book Pricing by Amazon is Set to Shake Rivals
This is a rather convincing argument as to why the DOJ was correct in bringing this anti-trust lawsuit:
http://www.litigationandtrial.com/2012/04/articles/business-lawsuits/apple-ebo oks-antitrust/
John Sargent, from MacMillan, responds on The Authors Guild website:
http://www.authorsguild.org/advocacy/articles/a-message-from-john-sargent-of.h tml
_______________________________
On a personal note, I have decided to continue honing American Gothic Chicago, while I finish writing Under the Picasso. I'll have both books ready to launch at the same time. There is so much chaos in the marketplace right now that it is difficult to know whether it is smarter to go the traditional route and find an agent -- I had a great one, but now I will need another -- or is it best to strike out on my own and indie publish? When I come closer to finishing the novel, I will make a decision.
Are any of you grappling with these questions?
Barry C. Lynn, director of the Markets, Enterprise, and Resiliency Project at the New America Foundation, weighs in, pointing the finger at Amazon as the heavy in this battle, with an article in Slate. The comments following his article give you an idea of how varied the opinions are in this case:
The Real Bad Guy in the E-Book Price Fixing Case
_________________________
The Wall Street Journal - Apple: E-book collusion claims 'not true'
_________________________
Mike Shatzkin, of The Shatzkin Files, gives his considered opinion of recent events:
After the DoJ action, where do we stand?
____________________________
Amazon's E-Book Pricing a Constant Thorn for Publishers
Daring to Cut Off Amazon - NYT
____________________________