Hard on the heels of the Authors Guild raising an alarm, (see this article), Simon & Schuster has responded, calling the AG’s alert an “overreaction.” The text of their response, from Adam Rothberg, Vice President for Corporate Communications, is:
“We are surprised at the overreaction of the Authors Guild to Simon & Schuster’s contract. We believe that our contract appropriately addresses the improved technology, increased availability, and higher quality of print on demand books, and reflects the fact that print on demand titles may now be readily purchased by consumers at both online and brick and mortar stores. We are embracing print on demand technology as an unprecedented opportunity for authors and publishers to keep their books alive and available and selling in the marketplace in a way that may not have been previously possible for many authors, and are confident in the long term it that will be a benefit for all concerned. We would also like the author and agent community to know that, when necessary, we have always had good faith negotiations on the subject of reversions, and will continue to on a book-by-book basis.”
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There is a further update to this story posted 5 June 2007.