Amazon, Independent Publishers Group reach settlement

The e-commerce giant had refused to sell e-book versions of titles distributed by IPG, which represents more than 500 publishers.

by Edward Moyer

May 25, 2012 4:58 PM PDT Follow @edatnews

Amazon has reached a settlement with the Independent Publishers Group over sales of the e-book versions of the nearly 5,000 titles distributed by IPG.

In February, Amazon stopped selling digital versions of titles distributed by IPG, which represents more than 500 publishers, owing to a disagreement about terms. As The Wall Street Journal points out in its report (subscription required), publishing terms cover such things as wholesale pricing, payment requirements, and marketing.

The Journal paraphrases an unnamed source as saying that IPG's terms, in February, were not as good as those from rival distributors. But IPG's president said then that they were in keeping with his rivals' terms.

Details of the deal between Amazon and IPG were not disclosed.

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