6th May 2015 The Publishers Association’s Chief Executive, Richard Mollet, gave the following comment on the Digital Single Market White Paper published by today the EU Commission. “The digital single market is a reality for publishing and today’s White Paper from the Commission includes some sensible proposals for extending this. “It is right that the…
8th May 2015 – UK book and journal publishing a £4.3 billion sector – Digital revenues account for 35% – UK publishers performing strongly in export markets Figures released today by The Publishers Association reveal the UK publishing industry to be maintaining its strength, diversity and innovation. Overall book and academic journal sales remain steady…
Alison Baverstock, 5th May 2015 Coalitions, the NHS and our place in Europe (or not) seem to be emerging as the political issues of the moment, but another issue around which all the parties tend to have firm opinions, if not policies, is the role and development of higher education. So when the call went…
Colin Hughes, 28th April 2015 ‘And what do you do for a living?’ ‘Well, I publish textbooks.’ ‘Really? That must be a struggle now you can get it all free online? … And anyway, books – surely they’ll be replaced with tablets/MOOCs/videos/games won’t they?’ That is a standard conversational exchange for most of us in…
Richard Mollet, 24th April 2015 We are less than two weeks away from the general election and with the polls stubbornly refusing to betray a preference for either of the two main parties, those on the fringe are able to maintain the prospect of their presence at any impending coalition negotiations. In one way, and…
20th April 2015 The publishing sector calls on the European institutions to support a robust copyright system to foster the European creativity that goes hand in hand with freedom of expression #copyrightforfreedom Authors and publishers; writers and journalists, artists, photographers and translators, booksellers, news agents, readers and consumers are invited to sign the petition launched…
16th April 2015 Commenting on the Writing the Future report released today PA Chief Executive Richard Mollet said: “This report highlights the urgent need to make the publishing industry more reflective of its writers and readers. The number of people from BAME backgrounds working in publishing has increased over the past few years. However, clearly…
9th April 2015 Members of The Publishers Association’s Trade Publishers Council (TPC) and the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA) have agreed a set of good practice guidance for the process of agreeing contracts. Both parties had become concerned about the delays being caused in negotiating and concluding contracts which in turn was leading to a…
27th March 2015 The Publishers Association, members of the Read On. Get On. campaign, are calling on Oxford’s literature-lovers to take action to get children reading, as The PA’s Reading for Pleasure Roadshow hits the Oxford Literature Festival. Every year one in five children in England, including over a third of the poorest children, leave…
26th March 2015 The Publishers Association’s new Copyright Infringement Portal is now live. It has been updated to ensure publishers are better able to protect their works in the face of a huge amount of content being made available illegally on websites. The new service has been developed specifically for The PA and is faster,…
26th March 2015 Commenting on the publication today of the Review of the Implementation of the RCUK Open Access Policy, Richard Mollet, Chief Executive of The Publishers Association and member of the Review Panel, said: “The report into the implementation of RCUK’s Open Access policy stresses the need for greater clarity in communication to institutions…
Richard Mollet, 26th March 2015 A perfect storm is brewing in Brussels. On 6th May the European Commission will publish its long awaited White Paper on the Digital Single Market. This, we must hope, will provide much needed insight into the Commission’s thinking on the scale and scope of copyright reform which it believes is…
24th March 2015 The Publishers Association is today writing to all UK MEPs to raise concerns about the damage that would be inflicted on the UK’s publishing sector and wider creative economy by the European Commission’s plans to reform copyright as part of the Digital Single Market programme. The PA is telling MEPs that by…
Richard Mollet, 19th March 2015 The appearance of a website is a pretty good indicator of its year of provenance, with the design cues and functionality of a site acting like annular rings on a tree stump. It was obvious that our old site was showing its age, the colour palette and layout were decidedly…
19th March 2015 The Publishers Association is launching a new website which will streamline and consolidate the wealth of content from its previous site. It will allow for greater interaction between The PA, its members and others in the publishing community, and provide information on its wide-range of campaigns and initiatives in a more accessible…
The reforms to the copyright exception which came into force last year to facilitate the supply of accessible copies of copyright works, and the upcoming ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty, means this is a time of considerable change for print disabled people and publishers. The PA, under the auspices of its Accessibility Action Group, is…
Richard Mollet, 23rd February Those people eagerly advocating reform of copyright need to raise their game in terms of getting evidence to back up their opinions. Those who maintain that urgent reform is not required should hold their nerve and wait to see what proposals are actually made. Stand in the middle of Brussels and…