Hachette Adopts New E-Book Standard
by Calvin Reid -- Publishers Weekly, 10/25/2007 1:49:00 PM
Hachette Book Group USA plans to release all of its e-book content in the International Digital Publishing Forum’s new file format standard for e-books, making it the first trade publisher to adopt the standard. The IDPF announced the adoption of the Open Publication Structure 2.0 and its “.epub” file format standard in September. The new standard is expected to cut costs and increase the number of e-books because it allows publishers to create one digital book file instead of the six to 10 file formats previously required.
David Young, chairman and chief executive officer of Hachette Book Group USA, said, “We are pleased to be the first in the industry to adopt the new .epub standard, which simplifies the creation of digital content, benefiting publishers and consumers alike.”
Michael Smith, who takes over as executive director of IDPF on Oct. 29, said the new standard would “provide streamlined publishing, distribution, and end-user reading features that we expect to be widely supported.” Smith succeeds Nick Bogaty as executive director of IDPF; Bogaty left IDPF in September for Adobe.
Steve Potash, president of IDPF, said that Smith formerly managed e-book production workflow and worked on digital strategic planning for Toronto-based romance publisher Harlequin. While Smith will spend time in New York City, he will remain based in Toronto and open an IDPF office there.
