Sunday, April 3, 2011

E-book stores and Canada

The Globe and Mail posted an interesting story on Canada's position in the e-book market.

The question is reminicent of a historical controversy surrounding Canadians' ability to import cheap American editions of British books (cheap due to weak American copyright protection for foreign works), rather than buying the legitimate leather-bound (and more expensive) English editions. The debate rises again, with fears that Canadian consumers will circumvent online e-book retailers licenced to sell books in Canada, purchasing instead from cheaper foreign retailers and undercutting profits that underwrite Canadian authors.