Amazon Concedes to Macmillan on eBook Prices

Amazon has capitulated in its price standoff with Macmillan, the publisher that is home to Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and insisted on setting the price for the digital versions of its books. That prompted Amazon to quit selling eBooks from Macmillan as well as the physical copies in its U.S. stores. The online retailer discussed the move on its official site, and clearly was unhappy about the concession. The statement read in part, “We have expressed our strong disagreement and the seriousness of our disagreement by temporarily ceasing the sale of all Macmillan titles. We want you to know that ultimately, however, we will have to capitulate and accept Macmillan's terms because Macmillan has a monopoly over their own titles, and we will want to offer them to you even at prices we believe are needlessly high for eBooks. Amazon customers will at that point decide for themselves whether they believe it's reasonable to pay $14.99 for a bestselling eBook.” Apple has said that publishers can set their own prices for eBooks to be used on its iPad.