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Hachette Livre-Google: a memorandum of understanding that marks a turning point

In November, Hachette Livre signed a memorandum of understanding with Google for the scanning by the American Web giant of its out-of-print works. The memorandum of understanding puts an end to the massive unauthorised scanning by Google of these out-of-print works collected in libraries. Furthermore, it makes any future scanning subject to prior consent and already scanned titles subject to ex post facto consent. Hachette Livre retains the right to exploit the files thus obtained for applications such as print-on-demand and may transmit them to on-line booksellers or to libraries wishing to incorporate them into their databases. This memorandum of understanding, which should result in a contract before the end of May 2011, does not discharge past claims and leaves Hachette Livre free to assert its rights.

Russia: a new market for partworks

Has Russia become the new Eldorado for partworks? Confronted in 2009 with the need to find a growth catalyst following a slowdown in its mature markets, the Partworks segment showed great initiative in launching the Build the Bismarck collection in Russia on a test basis. It was a bit of a gamble in view of the distance: no less than 90 semi-trailers were required to transport the products to Russia from France! But the results were well worth it: six million partworks were sold within a year thanks to a massive TV advertising campaign. This phenomenal success incited the division to try to repeat the feat in 2010 with The Human Body, which also sold six million copies! The line-up for 2011 includes partwork collections on Learn Astrology and Easy Crochet. Spasibo, russkie!