News

Frances Pinter

Frances Pinter, a founder member of our Editorial Board and a frequent contributor to LOGOS, is deep in a research project to explore ways of disseminating knowledge in African countries through "more flexible" licensing arrangements. Furthermore, might such new licensing practices be used to foster publishing of local African materials. Financed by Canada's International Research Development Centre, the project, known as PALM Africa (publishing and alternative licensing models) is concentrating for the moment on South Africa and Uganda.

Short Takes

(Unpublished correspondence from our files)

Graham to van Krevelen February 5, 2008

As we discussed recently, the subject of rpm has been quiescent in Europe for a few years. I am wondering whether the battle between Amazon and the French government is making it current again? I attach the latest clipping from the British press.

The story could be that so long as books were sold purely through High Street booksellers, rpm was defensible. Internet bookselling is an obvious challenge, but so are supermarkets and book clubs.

It might be time for a brief reflection on today's situation in Europe, which has always been the home of rpm. Maybe what rpm needs is an epitaph?

Van Krevelen to Graham February 19, 2008

Thank you for having sent me the press clipping about Amazon's attack on the French law on RPM. I think that Jeff Bezos overestimates his power and that of his subscribing clients, because the Law Lang is very well anchored in the French legislation, and it is EU-proof. I do not think that Sarkozy would like to suspend it. Bezos' arguments that France would be the only country in which postage for books cannot be included legally in the selling price is false. The same goes for The Netherlands and its law on fixed book prices. Amazon adds postage to most of its deliveries, so why not in France? Any court will tell him that his arguments are rather weak. So, I am not convinced that this will be the Requiem for the fixed book prices in France.

Arboleda to Graham February 29, 2008

The subscription price of $108 for the printed version and $140 for the combined subscription is somewhat steep for some developing countries. (I am providing a gift printed subscription to Karina Bolasco of Anvil Publishing in the Philippines.) If there could be a developing country online only subscription at about $32 (the difference between the two) LOGOS might attract more subscribers from such countries.

Graham to Arboleda March 18, 2008

Going online brings us closer to a solution to surmounting the barrier of low purchasing power. In the foreseeable future, we might be able to give institutions in developing countries open access to our archive. Francis Pinter is working on a project which will have pointers in this direction.

Regarding individuals in developing countries, I think you yourself have devised the ideal solution. We have tried direct offers at discounted prices to individuals, without success. I would like to extend your idea by inviting all our Trustees, Editorial Board and indeed all subscribers to make gift subscriptions (as you have done to Karina Bolasco), to which we would give discounts of say 75%, which would bring the cost close to what you envisage. If you would like to continue your generosity to Karina, just ask her to send the renewal notice to you, and with your blessing, I shall endorse it for the 75% discount.