As before: No, Amazon doesn't do the same. Amazon doesn't allow you to publish a competing book anywhere. Amazon's terms are significantly more restrictive.
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Apple Clarifies iBooks Author Licensing Situation in New Software Update
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As before: No, Amazon doesn't do the same. Amazon doesn't allow you to publish a competing book anywhere. Amazon's terms are significantly more restrictive.
You mean the Kindle Store that's accessible via Linux, Mac, PC, Andriod, and iOS? Speaking of iOS, weren't you able to buy Kindle eBooks from w/in the iOS app at one point before Apple blocked that?
Anyway, the analogy doesn't work because the concern, and rightful concern IMO which is why Apple clarified the legal language, was centered around content creation. The original wording, assuming it held up in court, would've given Apple legal power over the content itself generated in iBooks Author regardless of where the final product ended up. So, for example, say you started writing a book in iBooks Author, then decided to switch to another application. Apple could still bar you from distributing via any other outlet because the content was originally produced in iBooks Author. There is a massive difference between "any commercial content generated in our App must be distributed via our store" and "If you chose to distribute in .ibooks format you have to do it via our store."
Lethal
That is simply not true. Most of the books (especially the ones that sell in volume) on the Kindle Store are also available on Nook, Kobo, and iBooks.
Amazon actually pays lots of money to certain authors to convince them to go Kindle-exclusive -- in at least one case a seven figure sum.
Amazon actually pays lots of money to certain authors to convince them to go Kindle-exclusive -- in at least one case a seven figure sum.
The problem as I see it is that people want to use this lovely tool to create an eBook. It is a very slick app, easy to use. The exact kind of thing you expect from Apple. However, when you want to distribute your content you are limited as to the options you can export it as.
If you elect to use the .ibooks format, and you wish to charge a fee, even a nominal one, then you can *only* distribute it via the iBookstore. You cannot take the file and sell it elsewhere. There's the crux of the issue. You want wider exposure than just the iBookstore, as that means only iBooks can display the file.
What happens if you wanted to supply that file so it can be read on Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Sony, etc...? You cannot do so. Granted they won't read a .ibooks file anyway, however, if you were to rename it to .epub then it is possible it might be able to be read on the aforementioned devices. Interactive content may not work though.
There is also the other issue that if iBookstore won't allow you to publish the file then you cannot publish it elsewhere, unless you recreate it in another app and then you're free to do what you want. But why did you not use that other app in the first place? Ah, you thought you would use the wonderful tool that Apple provided.
It's obvious Apple wants to dominate and control the eBook market on iOS, and this is another way of them doing that. If it had been first to market with iBooks then perhaps they would have it sewn up by now, but they were not first to market, but they are trying bullying tactics like this to push competitors out of the field.
If you elect to use the .ibooks format, and you wish to charge a fee, even a nominal one, then you can *only* distribute it via the iBookstore. You cannot take the file and sell it elsewhere. There's the crux of the issue. You want wider exposure than just the iBookstore, as that means only iBooks can display the file.
What happens if you wanted to supply that file so it can be read on Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Sony, etc...? You cannot do so. Granted they won't read a .ibooks file anyway, however, if you were to rename it to .epub then it is possible it might be able to be read on the aforementioned devices. Interactive content may not work though.
There is also the other issue that if iBookstore won't allow you to publish the file then you cannot publish it elsewhere, unless you recreate it in another app and then you're free to do what you want. But why did you not use that other app in the first place? Ah, you thought you would use the wonderful tool that Apple provided.
It's obvious Apple wants to dominate and control the eBook market on iOS, and this is another way of them doing that. If it had been first to market with iBooks then perhaps they would have it sewn up by now, but they were not first to market, but they are trying bullying tactics like this to push competitors out of the field.
Yep. That Kindle Store.
Not sure why you are rehashing last week's argument. I was discussing the clarified terms as described in the OP.
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What's not true? Books in the Kindle format (.azw) are only available from the Kindle Store.
Yes, but you forget one simple fact. Apples choosing to not license that content. so you MUST go through their approved distribution methods.
Waaaah waaaaah waaaaah. Mooomy! Apple won't give me great bookmaking software for free without expecting the finished products in their proprietary format to be required to be sold on their siiiiiiite! Waaaaaaaah!
As others have pointed out, the iBooks authoring tool is "FREE" but MS Word in MS OFFICE Home Edition is not free and you cannot use it for commercial purposes which includes creating books for sale PERIOD.
The iBook format output contains javascript which Apple has chosen to not license to third parties which is another reason why you cannot export interactive copies to other formats.
Nothing is preventing you from implementing the book again in another tool and reselling that one in other stores. You just cannot use the "FREE" tool created by Apple do publish to other stores.
THANK YOU! All these whiners b*tching and moaning about something that doesn't cost them a damn penny. It's not Apple's job to develop and give out FREE software. Spoiled brats.
Wow. Insightful argument, I'm totally sold now.
Thing is, I like Apple, I love Apple. I want everyone to use their products. I left the MSFT plantation because I wanted to create beautiful things.
Yes, apple has the right to license their software anyway they want. No debate there. For me, free or not, it's not worth it to give away my rights to do with my creation what I want with it.
We used to keep all our beautiful books locked up behind restrictions and walls. Really beautiful ones were chained to the desks. They were called monasteries and the times were called dark for a reason.
Have a great weekend!
Are you saying you DESERVE more than what I gave you there? Want the rights to do whatever you want with your creation? Pay to create it using Adobe's options then. Or, accept that if a company is giving you a FREE piece of software, you should expect it not to give you everything you want. Should Apple be using resources to develop things like this for a handful of people who want to be authors, and then charge nothing and just have it subsidized by everyone else who doesn't want to be an author? That's essentially what you're asking. And don't bother with the "Apple has the money to do it" nonsense.
Again.. Really?!
What is with this dumb logic comparing iBooks Author to Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat?
Here is a quick glance of the software you mentioned:
Microsoft Word 2010 List Price: $139
Adobe Acrobat X Standard List Price: $299
Apple iBooks Author *** FREE ***
Are you telling us we can get Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat (not Adobe reader) for *FREE*? And because MS and Adobe have no restriction on files you generated by your supposedly free copies of MS Word and Adobe Acrobat, Apple should not have such restriction either?
Please tell us where we can get MS Word and Adobe Acrobat for free.
If you cannot tell us where to get free copies of Microsoft Word of Adobe Acrobat legally, then please drop your dumb logic.
iBooks Author is a free authoring tool designed for creating ebooks to be published in iBooks store. If you don't want to use it, then don't.
Apple has no obligation to provide you a *FREE* authoring tool so you can create ebooks to be sold on other distribution channel.
If Apple charges fee for iBooks Author, then it would be a different story.
So? That's their choice to make. If you don't like it, use someone and something else.
Well thats a conundrum. Apple has rights too, the right to dictate how its software is used, just like how you want the right to use your creation how you want.
Your previous analogy doesn't work. Just like others mentioned certain versions of MS Word you can't use for commercial proposes.
Your analogy was flawed though and some of the clarified terms specifically address content creation so it's Apple, not me, revisiting "last week's argument".
Overall, like I said, I'm glad Apple clarified the terms and I think its fine if they want to put distribution restrictions when using the .ibooks format.
Lethal
iBooks Author is a free application specifically written to create iBooks for Apple's devices. Microsoft Word is a paid-for application that is written to create documents that can be saved in a wide variety of different formats.
Engage your brain before you post please.
The analogy wasn't flawed in any way pertaining to the point that I was making. Apple limits the sale of .ibooks files to the iBookstore. Amazon limits the sale of .azw files to the Kindle Store. That's it.
No JavaScript is involved in the document generated. The document contains additional metadata that iBooks knows how to read and render from.
http://blog.booki.sh/blog/post/a-favour-from-goliath/
They're specific. If you are giving it away, it can be in ibook format and you can give it away wherever you want. If you are selling it in ibook format AND the ibook format was generated by this software, then the ibook format version created by this software can only be sold through Apple.
Is Word free of charge? Does Facebook allow me to post to Google+ through its own website?
I installed version 1.0 when this was first released. Now that version 1.0.1 has come up, I am not seeing an update available, just says installed? How do I update it?