Amazon and the publisher Hachette are engaged in a fierce dispute over the pricing of e-books
sold by Amazon. At issue is how the profits from the sale of
e-books should be divided between Amazon and the publisher and who
should bear the impact of Amazon's discounting of
e-books. Hachette is the fourth largest publisher in the
U.S., and its imprints include Little Brown. Its publications
are weighted towards works of fiction, which generally sell more in
e-book form than in print. In order to apply pressure on
Hachette, Amazon has taken steps that affect the availability of
Hachette print books: delaying shipments of Hachette print
books, not stocking as many Hachette print books, and not making
Hachette print books available for pre-order. Amazon has also
proposed giving all e-book revenues to Hachette's authors as
Amazon and Hachette negotiate. Many have described
Amazon's tactics as "bullying." This is the latest round
in longstanding disputes between the Big
