EBooks: changing the publishing industry, PwC

Turning the Page: The Future of eBooks

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interest books and ePUB for the mass 

market. It is now up to publishers, online 

bookstores, and device manufacturers to 

join forces, press ahead, and develop a 

format that provides the greatest benefit to

content owners and customers. The format 

issue is less important for walled-garden 

environments because consumers are 

highly satisfied with the user experience.

However it will become an issue if other 

market players such as Barnes & Noble 

or Borders become more powerful and 

consumers wish to move books they have 

purchased to a non-Amazon or non-Apple 

device.

Publishers – and also authors – should 

rethink their stance on digital rights 

management (DRM). As Apple and 

Amazon have successfully demonstrated, 

DRM can be user-friendly. Publishers 

should strive to embrace DRM systems 

that do not act as a deterrent by making it 

difficult to buy or use digital content.

Cooperation: To be represented on all 

platforms 

For publishers, it is important to establish 

a presence with content on all platforms: 

in bookstores, online, and as apps. A more 

open attitude with regard to ooperation 

and more courage are necessary in this 

respect.