The numbers... (Score 1)

Doing some research on Nuvomedia's (Berthelsmann) Rocket EBook I was dismayed to find out the prices for books were very high. Some paper books were even cheaper, both on Barnes & Noble (a Rocket E-book partner) and Amazon, than electronic versions for their electronic reader. Weren't electronic books supposed to free us from the economic constrains of paper publishing, atom shifting and all?

eMatter books should be cheaper. Lets Assume royalties stabilize at 50%. regular author can expect to receive between 7% and 12% of the cover price on a paper book, so expect to pay for eMatter between 14% and 24% of an equivalent paperback title. Assuming authors will not settle for the minimum, (and that they would much rather command a 15% royalty rate), that means eMatter books should cost between 1/4 and 1/3 of the price of an equivalent paperback. You pay for the reader, though (your computer? or one of those electronic book thingies?).

Well, if the system takes hold, we can foresee competition, and royalties for authors can escalate up to 80% *before* any special arrangements. Stephen King will probably get 100%. Or more :).

Candyman is not an Anonymous Coward. He just poses as one on Slashdot.
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