Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) offered 100% of e-book sales on its platform to the authors of Hachete Book Group amid its ongoing dispute with the publisher.
The e-commerce giant made the proposal in a letter to a number of authors and agents over the past several days. Under the proposal, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Hachete Book Group would give all of their revenue from the sale of e-books to authors while continuing their negotiations on a new contract.
In reaction to the proposal of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), the publisher rejected it and said the e-commerce giant seemed suggesting for it commit suicide.
“Amazon has just sent us a brief proposal. We invite Amazon to withdraw the sanctions they have unilaterally imposed, and we will continue to negotiate in good faith and with the hope of a swift conclusion,” according to Hachete Book Group.
Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) immediately responded to the statement of Hachete Book Group and described it as “baloney.” According to the e-commerce giant, the publisher is part of a $10 billion global conglomerate and it would not commit suicide because it can afford its offer.
“What they’re really making clear is that they absolutely want their authors caught in the middle of this negotiation because they believe it increases their leverage. All the while, they are stalling and refusing to negotiate, despite the pain caused to their authors. Our offer is sincere. They should take us up on it,” added Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN).
Roxana Robison, the president of Authors Guild rejected the proposal of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) citing the reason that it was a “short-term solution that encourages authors to take sides against their publishers.” She pointed out that the authors are still in the middle of the dispute between the e-commerce giant and the publisher.
“If Amazon wants to have a constructive conversation about this, we’re ready to have one at any time,” added Robison.
John Grisham and Stephen King along with hundreds of authors signed a petition indicating that they are not taking sides, but they urged Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) to stop hurting their livelihood. The authors emphasized that the e-commerce giant build its business from books. “None of us, neither readers nor authors benefit when books are taken hostage,” according to the authors.
On the other hand, around 6,500 authors who publish their books using the system of the e-commerce giant wrote their own petition on Change.org indicating that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) built its reputation on valuing authors and readers dearly while major publishers like Hachete Book Group have a long history of treating authors and readers poorly.
