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[ 11.02.2009 ]

Distribution of fiction and non-fiction ebooks using an international platform for authors.

In the spring of 2009 readme.cc and ordis.net will join forces to commence the distribution of e-books. Setting up a working group (AG), the two organizations will pool their expertise, joining the experience of successful online music distributor, ordis.net, with the know-how of the international literature platform, readme.cc.

Readme-onlinedistribution works by using an international platform for authors to distribute fiction and non-fiction in ebook format.

a) The ebooks are promoted on the Readme.cc platform and the authors are given a web presence through:
- personal and professional profile information
- attractive search options
- exposure to a growing online community of readers
- a cultural field spanning multiple art forms and can therefore react to developments in the musical sector

b) The offered ebooks are placed:
- on a platform comparable to a literary agency, which is cross-lingual and therefore promotes and inspires literary translations.
- on an international platform which promotes authors throughout Europe.
- on an advanced Web 2.0 platform, which represents quality literature and which provides the readers with numerous suggestions for further reading, with attractive search aids and encourages interaction with authors and other readers.
- on a platform which cooperates with numerous literary institutions throughout Europe.

c) By focusing on authors rather than genres, the platform encompasses the distribution of literary forms which are increasingly neglected in the current market, e.g. poetry, advanced prose and non-fiction.

d) As the platform is solely concerned with the distribution of ebooks, it is not in competition with print retailers and can therefore cooperate with the European and international association of booksellers, and even promote the sale of print books in quality bookshops.

Product concept
Readme-onlinedistribution offers the following products and services:

a)  Production and distribution of ebooks on the readme.cc download platform. The content is provided by the authors and/or their publishers with a Readme licence, and the book is presented and distributed as a readme.cc ebook.

b) Distribution of ebooks as a service for publishing houses that want to use readme-online distribution’s distribution channels.
c) Resale of ebooks in the role of the aggregator on download platforms.

Format
The open format EPUB will be chosen as standard for readme.cc ebooks because it ensures that the ebooks can be opened on all currently available devices.

readme.cc licence and rights management
The experience of ORDIS in the music sector shows that device manufacturers profit from digital rights management but not from authors. Works under readme.cc licence will generally not be subject to digital rights management restrictions but will be made freely available for personal use as part of a fairness agreement between author and reader.

The author is offered the following three options by readme-onlinedistibution:

a) Production and distribution of the ebook without any digital management barrier.
b) Production and distribution of the ebook without any digital management barrier but using a watermark (author‘s signature) which will make it possible to track the circulation of the ebook.
c)  Redistribution of ebooks with a digital management barrier (restriction of devices, copy protection).

Should authors request digital rights management restrictions for their ebooks, such a service is offered by readmedistribution as redistributor. This allows authors who cooperate with readmedistribution to choose whether they would like digital rights management restrictions applied to their ebooks.