Friday, February 11, 2011

EU Publishers Blast Apple's IPad Subscription Plan

European publishers have added their voice to the chorus of criticism surrounding Apple's plans for iPad newspaper subscriptions.

Until now, many consumers have been able to read newspapers on their iPad. But newspaper publishers claim Apple has informed them that free access to their publications via the iPad would end, with subscribers able to access to such publications only through its iTunes store -- where Apple charges a 30 percent fee. The Belgian authorities are already investigating the matter following complaints from Belgian publisher Roularta and Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad in January.

Apple's plan would disrupt the relationship between publishers and their readers, said the European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA). "Without direct access to their subscribers, this vital bond between newspapers and readers would be broken, to the detriment of both."

More

No comments: