Authors Guild Appeals Google Decision

In a district court filing, the Authors Guild gave notice that it is appealing Judge Denny Chin’s decision to dismiss the group’s copyright suit relating to Google’s library scanning program. The notice makes good on the Authors Guild’s vow to file an appeal, in the face of what executive director Paul Aiken called “a fundamental challenge to copyright.”

Regnery Parent In Talks to Sell Company

Jeff Carneal, president of Eagle Publishing, has confirmed reports that Eagle is consider- ing selling the company, following the decision of founder Tom Phillips to retire. In a statement, Car-neal said that “several qualified groups” have stepped up as po- tential buyers, but that no contract has been signed. Salem Communications has been reported to be the favorite to buy the company.

Kensington Buys Digital Pub, Lyrical Press

Kensington Publishing has acquired Lyrical Press. Lyrical, an e-book house founded in 2007, specializes in contemporary, paranormal, and erotic romance; thrillers; and science fiction. Lyrical will retain its name and will continue publishing as a digital-first imprint at Kensington. Lyrical founder Renee Rocco will become managing director of the imprint, while Adam Zacharius, Kensington director of special projects and alternative media, will oversee it.

Sherlock Holmes Is in Public Domain

In a Dec. 23 ruling, a federal judge declared that the character of Sherlock Holmes, as well as other characters and elements of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic mystery series, are now in the public domain. The federal suit was brought in early 2013 by author and scholar Leslie Klinger, who sought a declaration after the Doyle Estate attempted to extract license fees for a new book he co-edited.

More Growth at Smashwords

Smashwords founder Mark Coker reported that the distributor of e-books for self-publishers added about 25,000 authors in 2013, and that its total title count is now 276,100, up from 190,600 at the end of 2012. Authors earned $20 million from sales through Smashwords last year.