“John Wiley & Sons, a leading publisher of technology books, said Apple Computer has removed all its titles from the shelves of Apple stores in apparent retaliation for the upcoming publication of a biography of Apple CEO Steve Jobs,” Dawn C. Chmielewski writes for The Mercury News.
“The books disappeared from Apple stores last week after a month of increasingly contentious discussions about publication of the book, ‘iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business,’ said author Jeffrey S. Young. The book, co-written with William L. Simon, offers an unflinching account of the rise, fall and rebirth of one of Silicon Valley’s most charismatic figures,” Chmielewski writes. “Apple spokesman Steve Dowling declined to comment on Young’s book or whether the company had removed Wiley publications from its stores. An Apple executive was provided with an advance copy of the book, a person familiar with the situation said.”
Full article here.
I’m not sure I get why they pulled their books…are they mad that the Biography wasn’t published by them? Anyone else know about this?
“Read the article”
*sigh*
Now I get it. But if this is for real, then Apple isn’t doing themselves any favors. If what the author says is true, then the Biography is actually much more positive than the original written 20 years ago. I for one, am going to buy this book.
This is going to affect more than just the publiher, the individual authors are going to lose money by this as well. Unless the biography is filled with lies, Apple shoult not boycott the company or punish the other authors just because Steve Jobs doesn’t like the fact that he can’t control everything.
Personnally, I think the name of the book is a bit unflattering, though it may be unintentional. While I think “iCon” supposed to be “Icon,” it looks to me more like “Con,” as in con artist. That might be enough to ruffle a few feathers at apple.
My two cents.
it’s good to be the king…
Last time I checked, it was o.k. for companies to choose which products they will sell and not sell. Unless you live in Outer Slobovia, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding the book.
I don’t like a number of things about this scenario, but it is kinda’ funny– playgroundish.
It’s like “I’m gonna’ take my bat and ball home if you don’t play fair.”
There is a world of difference between Icon and iCon…
NOW where am I supposed to get my [insert subject matter here] For Dummies books when they come out??!!
The worst thing about this is David Pogue and Bob LeVitus are published by Wiley, and their non-‘Dummies’ books are generally informative. Otherwise, Peachpit and O’Reilly books are, IMO, more comprehensive than the few ‘Dummies’ books that Wiley pumps out related to Apple products.
In the long run, it won’t matter; when was the last time anyone paid full retail price for a book at the Apple Store, anyway?
I can’t wait. Jobs is a fascinating person. I doubt that I’d like him in person but I love reading about him. The fact that they’re removing this publisher’s books from the stores is just another interesting facet to his persona.
If I owned a business that sold products made by another business, and that business made/marketed a product that was unflattering about me or my business- damn right I would sever that business relationship.
That said- contractual obligations/considerations might impact my decision but not my desire to terminate the relation (short term).
The publisher new the risk they were taking when they decided to publish this book. They were either fools or felt the profits made by this one title justified risking the releationship.
Answer- They were Fools for underestimating Steve’s desire to control his image.
Ah the other shoe drops. Power corrupts and Absolute power gets you drunk.
Where’s the book on the Woz?
Steev,
The problem is that there are many other authors that had nothing to do with the biography, except for the misfortune of having the same publisher, that are being punished by Apple’s action. Apple has every right to boycott the specific book or individual author, but it’s not fair to punish the other innocent authors.
Personally, I think the “iCon” in the title is extremely clever – even more so with what MacNewbie pointed out.
Apple makes great computers, devices, and software. Apple also has the right to decide what products it sells in it’s stores. However, IMHO Apple’s reaction is childish – like a spoiled, insecure, brat who is going to take away his toys and is not going to continue to play simply because he can not have everything his way. (And this is very consistent with everything that I’ve read or heard about Steve Jobs – gotta love the irony.)
JW&S – relax – Apple’s response is going to draw positive attention to your book and have people seek out this book and your other titles. Apple may have won the battle over shelf space, but word is out.
Steve may want to control his image, but I think a slippery slope is being tread on by using the corporation for which he works to implement a personal vendetta against the publisher.
I think the title, however, goes a little to far. iCon? Sure it uses the iWhatever moniker like many Apple products. But the capitalized portion is a work in its own. Icon. iCon. I con…. Hmmm
I think Steve’s decision to pull all of the publisher’s titles currently in the Apple stores is bad. Sure, ban the biography, but let the other titles remain. This complete ban only supports the positions of the targets of Apple’s recent lawsuits against other “journalists” and diminishes Apple’s own position on protecting it’s business (not it’s leader’s personal whims).
Methinks thou dost protest too much, Steve. Take it like a man – Bill Gates does. If you’re going to grow the business, Steve needs to grow, too.
This is kinda petty of Jobs – isn’t freedom of speech in the first amendment? If there are statements that are untrue he can always sue for libel.
Fact is creating a stink about something like this creates more publicity for the item in question and bad PR for Jobs and Apple. Let it go dude.
The classic example is the Sex Pistols – the gov’t (or the BBC can’t remember which) banning “God Save The Queen” sent the single to number one immediately and propel the Pistols into the limelight.
“Isn’t freedom of speech in the first amendment?”
Yes. But Apple isn’t keeping anything from being published. Constitutional concepts like “freedom of speech” refer to our freedom from government limiting our speech, not the marketplace. Just because you have something to say doesn’t mean that you have the right to demand a venue from which to say it. Whether it’s shelf space in the Apple Store or the ability to post on a business’s discussion board.
zupchuck-
Steve’s image is Apple image.
Camus-
Why should Apple be responsible for the other Authors that publish through Wiley. Perhaps the other Authors should bitch to their publisher about risking their entire line by publishing a book that is nothing more then the crap that greets patrons as they wait to pay for their goods at the local Grocery store.
And for all of you who think this is petty, it happens all the time in all different industries. That initself doesn’t make it correct or incorrect, it’s just that a company has a right to choose who they do business with. Why continue with a partner that is willing to sour the business relationship?
Petty? Who in this thread can say they have been or ever will be in a similar situation? Please.
Nothing like a bit of controversy to jump-start sales, heheh.
Who will change candyass Jobs diapers tomorrow. What a crybaby whimp.
Steve Jobs has always been pissy with the press. He’s always demanded absolute control of his image.
The truth ought to count for more to a man who is a billionaire and can’t be hurt by anyone short of a head of state. (Or our short head of State!)
Too bad, Steve. It just makes you look weak and pitiful to do such a lame thing as retaliate for daring to do what our country is all about – FREEDOM! (In spite of our pseudo-justice department.)
Steve Jobs is one of the most innovative and visionary leaders of the late-20th, early 21st centuries. He has accomplished more in his one lifetime than most people could even dream of accomplishing in thiers. He will long be remembered as the creator of the Apple Macinosh and yet, there is on thing that he needs to do…
He should take a sedative and fscking RELAX.
I’m not sure the authors of the various books removed from the stores should be mad at Apple.
Wiley risked their entire line with one book. The authors should be mad at Wiley for risking their sources of income by pissing off one of their major distributors.
Jobs is precisely the kind of guy that somewhere along the way he will self-destruct.
Can’t wait to see it … I’m fed up with this asswipe’s behavior.