READMAGINE 2014

Readmagine is the Week on Digital Innovation in Reading and Books, organized by the Germán Sánchez Ruipérez Foundation from June 8 to 12, 2015, at Casa del Lector, together with FANDE.

On this occasion, joint working meetings were also held with members of the Technology and Innovation for Smart Publishing (TISP) network to review the proposal for a European Public Policy Agenda for digital books, which will be submitted to the European Commission.

At the end of the meeting of digital distributors, José Manuel Anta stated that the digital distributors will work on «three or four key points» that were raised both at the internal meeting and during the public session. He noted that a working group will develop «a series of common parameters or approaches regarding DRM protection systems.»

A specific group of members of the digital distributors group «will also work on market and audience data comparisons in each market.»

Anta stated that they will also analyze «subscription models and the collaboration model between distributors and libraries.» After the meeting, they confirmed that «there is a lot of progress to be made in continuing to advance and continue to gather information» about this sector.

She also noted that «an avenue for collaboration will be opened, and surely in future meetings, we will have to do so with a mix of paperback books and digital content, and there we would like to advance the issue of print-on-demand, one by one, which is important.» He clarified that this meeting did not address the issue, although he believes «it makes perfect sense» since he has received several comments on the matter and believes things can be done there.

He also noted his conviction that «for the future, it makes sense for us to look at models along these lines and also analyze, looking ahead, a comparison with other business models in similar cultural or leisure industries, such as music, film, and video games, which can certainly teach us things in this regard, such as the digital press sector.»

Anta highlighted among the most important topics the possibility of digital distributors forming a more formal group, under the structure of an association.

He added that FANDE formed an international distributors association a few months ago, for which they have changed their bylaws, «because there is no other international distributors association, although there is one for publishers and booksellers.»

Regarding perceptions of the meeting’s outcome, a series of opportunities for collaboration with different sectors, both in parallel industries and in other lines of activity, for example, the world of Libraries. There has been a lot of talk about libraries from different perspectives, but from a purely business opportunity perspective. We’ve seen that in countries like the Netherlands and Sweden, libraries represent 40 or 50 percent of these distributors’ e-book revenue.» He also highlighted the efforts being made in Latin America to invest in this sector.

Other contributions to the program included:

1. Freundt, who spoke on «The Tolino Strategy: Leadership in Digital Distribution in Germany.»

1. Van Lanschot (Netherlands) discussed «Distribution of Digital Press: The Blendle System.»

1. Bourne, J. English, A. Flicker, and K. Lämsä addressed the topic «Libraries as an Emerging Market for E-books?»

1. Helin, S. Breewsma, G. Ambrogio, and D. Fernández addressed «Trends in e-book distribution.»

J.H. Guimarães presented on «The Brazilian e-book market,» and R. Rodríguez closed the day with a presentation on «The international strategy of a European e-distributor: the Odilo case.»