Amazon controversy heats up

Earlier this week, Amazon announced any publisher that uses on-demand printing in publishing its books must use Amazon's BookSurge print-on-demand services if they want their books sold on the top-ranked book e-tailer's Web site. (Although Amazon did not issue a press release on the policy change, Publishers Weekly did run this story on the details). The announcement caused a furor among publishers who see this is a type of blackmail, although Amazon insists that it's not an ultimatum.

Now the Independent Book Publishers Association has entered the fray. In this statement as reported in Publisher's Weekly, the influential group urged Amazon to reconsider the policy, which "...imposes a significant financial burden on tens of thousands of small and independent publishers who can least afford it. Without the opportunity to benefit from competitive pricing, small publishers risk at best an expensive and needless overhaul of their manufacturing process, and at worst, the loss of their livelihood."

Says one book publisher: "This group has some clout. It will be interesting to see what happens."

For its part, Amazon has said the policy is in the best interest of consumers and has said that it won't back down.