Neelie Kroes

In the United States, the fight to get more access to e-books seems like a constant struggle. Fights over DRM, getting more e-books into libraries, and giving self-published authors the same credibility as traditionally published authors are just some of the issues we contend with.

But it seems we may be the lucky ones.

In a recent speech in Paris, Neelie Kroes, a vice president of the European Commission, addressed the topic of e-books in Europe—or the lack thereof.

“I know some see the advent of digital as a threat to the sector. But for me the biggest risk is that we fail to take advantage of new possibilities,” she said in an article in The Inquirer out of London.

“Unless we embrace the future, the sector will for sure fall behind, overtaken by more forward-looking and dynamic parts of the world; overtaken by those who can look ahead and grasp the future. Then we will let down our economy, our people, and our cultural heritage.”

This speech sounds familiar. Parts of its—especially how e-books can seem as a threat—rings loud as a fight that has gone on for years in the United States with only recently more and more companies taking advantage of the technology.

More digital-imprints have emerged and libraries have embraced e-book lending.

Kroes also recognized the advancement of the United States in that category.

In the US, she said, where they are a brazen bunch of risk takers, e-books account for a quarter of sales. In Europe just one country goes above two percent—she doesn’t say which, probably for fear of embarrassing them.

According to The Inquirer, Kroes wasn’t just complaining about the lack of e-books, but also has a plan to get more done in Europe. She plans on changing part of the tax system for authors, providing what seems to be DRM-free books and gathering more information.

“EPub is just one example. Most readers expect to be able to access their books in whichever country they are, and on whatever device they choose,” said Kroes. “If European publishers can’t meet those expectations, consumers will vote with their wallets; or go to the big American companies who can offer that kind of scale.”

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  1. “If European publishers can’t meet those expectations, consumers will vote with their wallets; or go to the big American companies who can offer that kind of scale.”

    … or just switch to plain piracy until built-for-American-and-global-corporation intellectual rights framework collapses finally.

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