We’re writing to let you know that many of our global retail partners are taking steps to remove summary books from their store shelves, regardless of genre. To abide by the wishes of our partners, within the next several weeks Draft2Digital will begin to remove previously published summary books from distribution. We also will no longer accept the publication of new summary books.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
There are many factors that have led to this decision by the retailers. In fact, some retailers stopped accepting summary books years ago. If we were to boil it down to the top three reasons, they would be:
Reader trust: Summary works often lead to reader confusion, as summary books can be mistaken for original works. Consumers can feel misled, which damages their shopping experience and can lead to mistrust of the retailer.
Copyright concerns: A high percentage of summary books are produced without written permission from the original rights holder, raising concerns about copyright compliance.
Excessive inventory: The relative ease with which summary books can be produced, published, and distributed has led to an overabundance of summary books on retail shelves. This excess glut can significantly diminish the browsing and discovery experience for readers.
Removal of summary books will enable our retail partners to streamline the shopping experience, ensuring their customers can find and enjoy the high-quality, original content they’ve come to expect from their preferred bookstore.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain the integrity of the marketplace. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
