Ebook Retailer Kobo to Become a Book Publisher

Posted on October 27, 2011

Amazon.com's foray into book publishing is already causing a ripple effect in the publishing world. Canadian ebook seller Kobo has announced that it will publish original books, according to CBC News.

Americans are familiar with the Kobo ebook reader that used to be sold at Borders Books. Kobo has created a new publishing division that will work directly with authors. Kobo's major shareholder is Indigo Books, the Canadian retail bookstore chain. The new publishing program is set to launch sometime in 2012, according to CEO Michael Serbinis.

Kobo will offer full publishing services for authors, including design and book editing. Kobo hasn't said whether it will have two programs -- one for self-publishing and one for books they solicit, but it seems likely that they will follow the Amazon.com model.

Greg Hollingshead, the head of the Writers' Union of Canada, told CBC News that Kobo and Amazon are going to steal away business from traditional book publishers, commenting that, "They're clearly a major threat to publishers."