The Clean and Green Club

As most of you know, SPAN launched the Amazon/BookSurge Antitrust Lawsuit Campaign on July 7. The campaign is working to get Amazon.com to change its policy of requiring publishers, using their print on demand (POD) distribution services, to print with their subsidiary, BookSurge.

For the whole story, you can read my July 7 letter to members and additional supporting information at
https://www.spannet.org/amazonantitrust-home.htm.

After sending the letter to our e-mail list of about 10,000 authors and publishers, I received quite a few letters. Response to SPAN’s campaign ran about 97% favorable.

I thank everyone who sent comments and I especially thank all of you who signed the petition. I appreciate the commitment the signers made to stand up for the good of the industry. Although I was not able to get back to everyone, I read and archived your comments.

I believe in free markets, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly. I also believe in the system of checks and balances on both government and citizens as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

Amazon has the freedom to do whatever it wants to do with its business (even illegal acts) until the market or the legal system stop it from doing things they find objectionable.

I’m not a lawyer, but I did take Business Law 101, which had a chapter on antitrust cases. I also recently read the class action complaint and some other information on illegal tying of products. Ultimately, it is for the court to decide if Amazon’s practices are illegal. From my research, the plaintiffs seem to have a reasonable case against Amazon for illegal business practices.

(You can read the complaint and several antitrust articles here: www.spannet.org/amazonantitrust-home.htm.)

People have asked me, “How is the campaign going?” At this point we have 307 signatures on the petition and five publishers’ and writers’ organizations supporting the campaign. Additionally, several organizations contacted me to say that the decision would have to go to their board and it might take a few months.

As for the advocacy side of the campaign, I will send the letter and a copy of the petition to Jeff Bezos at Amazon.com at the end of July.

One price of freedom is a responsibility to hold in check unjust practices by taking the time to be informed and to
voice our objections. SPAN’s campaign provides an opportunity for our community of voices to be heard.

Have you added yours?

Thanks,

Scott Flora
Executive Director

Ps. We still need people to sign the petition www.spannet.org/amazonantitrust-petition.htm and publishers’ and writers’ organizations to support the campaign.