There’s a new MAC app called I-Books Author which has a hidden agenda: when you upload your book to the Apple store you automatically signed away all rights to distribute it anywhere but on Apple.
Below you can read the Tips posted by Apple. In one tip it sounds like you can distribute and in another it says no way.
I used SmashWords. com to learn how to publish an e-book and also how to learn how to market an e-book. I have been 100% happy with contact with SmashWords.com.
So yes — beware of Apple taking a huge bite out of the ‘apple of your eye’ — the book you created.
Below are the Tips listed for understanding IBooks Author, a free MAC app that automatically takes away all of the author’s distribution rights. Beware!
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I’m an author (or publisher). Can I distribute this work on my own website?
“You may distribute books created in iBooks Author free of charge on your own website. If you wish to sell your book, you must do so through the iBookstore
How can I distribute my work?
“You can publish your book to the iTunes Bookstore; you must choose to sell your book or offer it as a free download. You can also export your book from iBooks Author as a PDF, text, or iBooks document for you to distribute outside the iBookstore.
How do I publish my book on iTunes U?
“To publish your book on iTunes U, you must have an iTunes U site. If you do not already have an iTunes U site, you can apply for one.
How do I publish my book on the iBookstore?
“You can sign up to publish your books directly using iTunes Connect. To sign up to sell your books on the iBookstore, complete the application and download iTunes Producer. Books can also be made available for free on the iBookstore.
Note: All iBooks Author books for sale must also include a sample book; free books do not require a sample. The file size limit for all books published to the iBookstore is 2 GB.
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The above Tips are confusing in that it seems like you have control over distribution but in reality you do not have control when you use IBooks Author, a free MAC app which takes away 100% of your distribution rights. With SmashWords. com e-book authors keep 100% control of distribution rights.
To see an example of how to publish easily on SmashWords.com go to:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/109312
DrCameronJackson@gmail.com
