Amazon in talks to launch digital library: report

12 Sep 2011

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Online retailer Amazon is in talks with publishers for launching a Netflix like service for digital books, where customers would pay an annual fee to access a library, media reports said today.

"Amazon.com Inc is talking with book publishers about launching a Netflix Inc like service for digital books, in which customers would pay an annual fee to access a library of content," a report in The Wall Street Journal quoted a person familiar with the development as saying.

The report said several publishing executives have shown little interest in the idea as it could bring down the value of books and also strain their relationships with retailers who sell books in physical form.

While there may be opposition from both booksellers and printers to the idea, many publishers, at least the new generation ones, may find the idea attractive as it is hazzle-free. Also, more and more readers are going online with the advent of the increasing availability of digital content through tablets and other electronic devices.

Amazon, based in Seattle, is a retailer of books, movies, music and games along with electronics, toys, apparel, sports, tools, groceries and general home and garden items. It also makes the popular Kindle electronic reader and is also expected to release a tablet to rival Apple Inc's iPad in coming weeks.

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