Author Claims Apple Won't Carry Her ebook Because It Mentions Amazon

martiniturbide writes "Author Holly Lisle tried to publish her guide How To Think Sideways Lesson 6: How To Discover (Or Create) Your Story's Market at Apple's iBooks store. She says it was rejected first by Apple because it had 'live links' to Amazon. After she removed the links, it was rejected again because according to her: 'The problem is the CONTENT. You can't mention Amazon in your lesson.'"

Comments

The first rule of controlling a market...

[Anonymous Coward]

shut down discussion.

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[Anonymous Coward]

The third rule of selling self-help books: make yourself seem like a plucky underdog being trampled on by a huge, faceless corporation.

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[bigstrat2003]

People keep throwing around the word "censorship" like they think they know what it means, but it's obvious they don't. Censorship is when the government restricts your speech. Even if every single one of her claims is true, she is not being censored.

Well, Merriam-Webster's site says this.

Censorship:

1. The institution or practice of censoring.

Censor:

To examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable; also: to suppress or delete as objectionable.

Nothing about the term requires that it be applied to the government. So, you're wrong. And while Apple certainly has the legal right to censor content that appears in their marketplace, it's pretty shitty of them to do so, and people are absolutely right to call them out for it (provided that the claims are true).

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[mk1004]

A quick search of apple inc in books on amazon returns plenty of results. Some are obviously positive and others negative about Apple, and some are probably neutral. The author suggests that Apple doesn't allow mentions of competitors, or at lest Amazon, in their bookstore. So which of the two, if either, is evil?

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[PopeRatzo]

So does that mean that the Disney Store should be forced to sell Debbie Does Dallas if they sell books by other authors?

You mean if I own a religious bookstore, I have to sell the Kama Sutra sex manual, "On the Road" which encourages drug use, and other vile filth? No sir. This is a free country and I should be able to decide what I wish to sell in my private business. It is not right that I should have to be forced out-of-a-job because of some stupid law that obliges me to sell items that are sinful.

See, the problem here is you're setting up a straw man. Nobody is "forcing" Apple to sell anything. Nobody is forcing Apple out of business. Nobody is even pushing this private business to do anything it does not want.

Instead, this woman, this author, is simply pointing out the kind of douchebag behavior that Apple has increasingly made its business model. Success through suppression of competition. Success through censorship, through lawsuits, through crushing competition. Success through stepping on small business people.

This author is not talking about lawsuits or "there oughta be a law". She's just putting the information out there and letting people see for themselves why so many people are saying it's just not cool to own Apple products any more.

I really don't think you're dramatic introduction of religious freedom and "sinfulness" is applicable or adds anything of value to this discussion.

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[Opportunist]

Popular for some, the devil for others... Rest assured some will cry bloody murder, others will call it a slander campaign... be it as it may, everyone's talking about a book nobody would have bothered to even think of taking a look at.

Mission accomplished.

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[jmac_the_man]

Apple has religious fanatics?

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[drkim]

Can you tell me where in the Bible, Torah or Koran it says that sex is dirty?

Like Song of Solomon:
"We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts, But my breasts are like towers."
"He shall lie all night betwixt my breasts."
"Come ... blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits."
"My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him."
"He thrust his hand into the opening, and my inmost being yearned for him. I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt."

You see..? Done Biblically, sex is very dirty!

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[Ol Olsoc]

You see..? Done Biblically, sex is very dirty!

Behold, I come like a thief in the night?

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[KingSkippus]

Okay, so if you ARE a plucky underdog being trampled on by a huge, faceless corporation, what the hell are you supposed to do? Just shut up and take it? I'm not saying you're wrong, but that thing you just said, big faceless corporations delight in people believing it because then they can do no wrong. If you're an asshole, that's your fault. If we're an asshole, then it's still your fault.

So I'm genuinely curious, how do you, as a consumer, tell the difference? What do you know about this particular circumstance, this particular author, that we don't know that makes you think that she is being disingenuous?

Again, I'm not saying you're wrong, maybe she is making a fuss just to get publicity. If so, then by all means, let us know why you think so so that we won't waste our time supporting her. It just seems to me that you're saying that anyone who makes a fuss must just be in it for the publicity, and I strongly disagree.

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[Anonymous Coward]

Rest assured reasonable, normal human beings will cry bloody murder, brainwashed Apple drones will call it a slander campaign

FTFY

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[drkim]

I'm sorry A.C., I didn't realize it was ACTUALLY written in English. I thought it was ACTUALLY written in Hebrew.

But perhaps you would rather enjoy Ezekiel 23:20 (New International Version translation)

There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[whisper_jeff]

Again, I'm not saying you're wrong, maybe she is making a fuss just to get publicity. If so, then by all means, let us know why you think so so that we won't waste our time supporting her.

Her claim is the book was refused because it mentions Amazon. Go to the iTunes store. Do a search for Amazon. Ignore the results about the geographic region and notice how many other books clearly and obviously mention Amazon. Take particular note, for example, of the book titled "Amazon.com" which, one would assume, is about Amazon and makes mention of the company.

After you do this basic level of investigation, one can only be left to assume that there's either some key part of this story missing and/or she is doing this to generate attention for her book as a marketing ploy (driving people to buy her book on Amazon, most likely).

It just seems to me that you're saying that anyone who makes a fuss must just be in it for the publicity, and I strongly disagree.

I agree (with you) - making a fuss does not mean one is just trying to generate publicity but, especially in today's day and age one must be sure to consider the possibility that, yes, it is being done for publicity. It's a marketing tactic that has proven to work, largely because most people aren't willing to do any degree of investigation into whether or not a claim is true. Thus, he (or she) who complains loudest gets eyeballs.

I believe, in this case, the story is either missing a very important key piece of information or, more likely, the author is manipulating the online media into generating hype regarding her book to increase sales.

Re:The first rule of controlling a market...

[heathen_01]

I thought we were here to bash apple. Whats this about a book?

extraordinary claims

[YesIAmAScript]

Require extraordinary proof.

There are plenty of iBooks already that mention Amazon.

We have one person making a blind accusation here.

Re:extraordinary claims

[rjames13]

Require extraordinary proof.

There are plenty of iBooks already that mention Amazon.

We have one person making a blind accusation here.

Maybe you can give us some examples? ...

Selling on Amazon's FBA program by Nathan Holmquist
Make a killing on Kindle by Michael Alvear

If you ask me what is going on here, it is creative marketing. By blaming Apple for her book not being published, she gets free marketing for her book on Amazon. All this marketing fed by the frenzy of the Apple haters.

Re:extraordinary claims

[Qwavel]

The article is by Cory Doctorow, who is very well known and respected.

I would assume he did some basic vetting of the claim - he is no fool and has a reputation to protect.

Re:extraordinary claims

[Frosty Piss]

Mod parent up.

There are dozens and dozens of books that both "mention" Amazon, and have Amazon as their primary subject, many being books on how to publish on Amazon or otherwise make money on Amazon. Many authors publish on both Apple and Amazon.

Folks, use some common sense: Apple simply could not get away with this type of policy. And there is not reasonable reason why they would want to.

Without seeing the actual email traffic, we can't know for sure, but possibly it's a shitty book? Maybe there where technical issues that this woman didn't understand? Maybe there where copyright issues with parts of the content? Who knows?

I'm inclined to believe that this woman is either jumping to conclusions and doesn't feel like she should have to follow some process that Apple has requested, or like others have said, a stupid PR stunt.

Re:extraordinary claims

[Frosty Piss]

The article is by Cory Doctorow, who is very well known and respected.

First, it's hardly an "article", it's a single paragraph followed by a direct excerpt of the blog post by the offended author.

Secondly, neither Doctorow nor the offended author provide any proof whatsoever. None.

Now, this is only speculation, but perhaps Apple had an issue with the cover art, which is a rip-off of the For Dummies series of books? Publishers that copyright issues seriously.

But, since the author has provided no evidence to support her screed, it's really a non-story.

Re:extraordinary claims

[Reschekle]

You seem to be confused. YesIAmAScript claims that there are many books in the Apple book store that mention Amazon. If YesIAmAScript claims this then he must have knowledge and thus can tell us which books make mention of Amazon.

Re:extraordinary claims

[93 Escort Wagon]

Folks, use some common sense

Hahahahaha! On Slashdot!? That's a good one!

Re:extraordinary claims

[whisper_jeff]

If Cory did any basic vetting, then he failed.

Here, try this:

Step 1: Go to the iTunes store.
Step 2: Search for "Amazon"
Step 3: Ignore all titles obviously about the geographic location and take note of how many books obviously include mention of "Amazon" the company.

Protip: One of the books available for sale via iTunes is called "Amazon.com". I could be mistaken, but I think it mentions and discusses Amazon, the company.

Her claim is marketing BS.

Doesn't seem right

[SilenceBE]

I have bought some eBooks (usability bundle) by Smashing Magazinethat also are available on the Apple iBookstore and Amazon (and other competitors) have been mentioned multiple times in those books.

I'm beginning to question that there is much more to this story and it has been spin doctored to create some free extra publicity by riding on the iHate wave.

Re:Doesn't seem right

[gl4ss]

Well, it wouldn't be the first time when a large online store applies different rules to different submissions.

Happens all the time.

BS

[edelbrp]

I call BS. I did a quick search here for "Amazon" on the iTunes Store and it comes up with a number of books related to publishing and marketing with Amazon including publishing eBooks for the Kindle.

Amazon has their own annoyances

[HangingChad]

Amazon tells you that if you want to be in their lending library the content has to be exclusive to them for 90 days.

At the end of 90 days you discover that the 90 day clock resets. Instead of just saying as long as you want to be in the lending library, the content has to be exclusive, they play the recurring 90 day game.

I'm guessing if they just came right out and told the truth it might be challenged as anti-competitive.

I'm also guessing some big titles get a better deal.

Zero proof == Zero credibility.

[divisionbyzero]

There is zero proof in her claim. Why was this posted?

Debbie does her stretch... maybe?

[Taco Cowboy]

So does that mean that the Disney Store should be forced to sell Debbie Does Dallas if they sell books by other authors?

 
Hmm... TFA was talking about being blocked by Apple because of a mention about Amazon and you jumped in with Disney being forced to carry "Debbie Does Dallas"?
 
Isn't _ that _ quite a stretch?
 

I got similar treatment from Amazon

[PseudonymousCoward]

In my book "The Making of 'I Saw Them Ride Away'" I mentioned the great help that Amazon, and their subsidiary CreateSpace, had been in enabling the publication of my Great-Grandfather's memoir. When I submitted the manuscript for format checking, it was rejected because it mentioned "amazon.com". I had to eliminate a very complimentary sentence, at their own insistence.

I'm sure the policy makes sense to someone.

Re:Please do not print large Jobs

[PopeRatzo]

The face of Apple [thechive.com] has died,

But they clearly still have a prick.

Re:Debbie does her stretch... maybe?

[TapeCutter]

GGP was asking for public companies to be forced to carry everything

No they asked for "a law against censoring content in a public marketplace by a public company". You and Karlt1 interpreted that to mean every company must stock every item. You are therefore (unintentionally) using a strawman argument.