Judge Blocks '60 Years Later'
Finding that author J.D. Salinger is likely to succeed on the merits of his copyright case, a federal judge last week granted a preliminary injunction barring the publication of what Salinger's attorneys called an unauthorized sequel to The Catcher in the Rye. In her decision, Judge Deborah Batts ruled that Fredrik Colting's 60 Years Later would indeed harm the market for “sequels and other derivative works.” Colting plans to appeal. Despite the ruling, the book will be on sale in Europe this week.
HBG Backs Text-to-Speech
Hachette Book Group issued a statement last week saying that as long as its authors don't object, it has no problem with devices adding text-to-speech functionality. The only exceptions would be for books that fall under its audio program or in special circumstances, like memoir, where the author's voice is crucial to the work.
Harvard Cuts Six
Harvard University Press has eliminated six positions, cutting two editorial, three and one sales. A spokesperson said the reorganization was done as part of the university's response to the economic downturn and the decline in the value of Harvard's endowment, and as a result of strategic planning that began before the economic crisis hit last fall.
Kaplan Moves Sales to S&S
Kaplan Publishing has moved its sales function to Simon & Schuster, which has been handling other distribution-related operations for Kaplan since January 2007. The switch has resulted in some changes in Kaplan's sales operation, which included a small in-house sales staff. Although several positions have been eliminated, Mary Dolan will stay on as executive director of sales, while Jennifer Farthing will move back into her role of executive director, business development.
B&N Has iPhone App
Barnes & Noble.com has launched an iPhone app that will allow users to accesscontent from the BN.com site as well as buy books and other items. In addition, through a partnership with LinkMe Mobile from Evryx Technologies Inc. and Spotlight Mobile Inc., customers can use their iPhone or iPod Touch cameras to snap a photo of a book's front cover and get product details, editorial reviews and customer ratings. The app is free at Apple's App Store.
RH Mondadori CEO Leaving
Riccardo Cavallero will step down as CEO of the Spanish-language publisher Random House Mondadori at the end of the year. Cavallero, who has run the joint venture between RH and Mondadori for eight years, is returning to Mondadori as general manager and will be responsible for all of the Milan-based publisher's general interest book publishing operations. A search for his successor will begin shortly.
As a search for his successor begins, RH said it is committed to maintaining “the editorial independence and strong local publishing programs and organizational structure that gives Random House Mondadori its unique identity within Spanish book publishing.”
Doyle Retiring From Curbstone
Judith Doyle, who cofounded Curbstone Press with her late husband, Sandy Taylor, is retiring from the press. The Curbstone board is working on a plan for the future direction of the distinguished publisher.
Grand Central To Re-pub Jackson Bio
With an overall lack of Michael Jackson books, Grand Central has just acquired J. Randy Taraborrelli's currently out-of-print biography on the superstar. Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, published in 1990, will be updated to include details about Jackson's life since the book was originally released. Grand Central is crashing the updated book, to be called Michael Jackson: The Magic, the Madness, the Whole Story, 1958—2009, for mid-July.
