How Amazon Could Change Publishing

The article in Forbes begins like this:

"BURLINGAME , CALIF. - Technology has disrupted every industry. Now, it's book publishing's turn.

"Archaic beyond belief, it's an industry that treats its most important asset--the author--badly. Can this go on?"

To read more, here's the link:
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Malcolm

P.S. The article has been around for a while, but I keep seeing it come up in discussions about publishing, so put the link here for those who haven't seen it.

Interesting, Malcolm. Especially the comments, some by authors or publishers I recognize. The biggest name among them is Nora Roberts. I have to agree with the concensus - it will be a cold day in hell before Amazon takes complete control of the publishing business.
The article itself contained a number of errors, the biggest of which, at least in my opinion, is that somehow Amazon would make big names of all those iwhose books are published. That's just POD with a different name. Don't look for Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins or any of the biggies to disappear anytime soon. The rosy scenario pictured with Amazon in complete charge would be the worst thing that could possibly happen to legitimate writers.
Thanks for steering us to the article, Malcolm. However, by doing so you caused me to spend a lot of time I shouldn't have on the net. I'll bet that's what you had in mind, wasn't it?

The only way to insure fairness is for there to be competition and I'm not sure Amazon offers that. So what's the answer, I don't know but I wish I did then I could write a best seller about it. Though would anyone listen?

Right, Dick, I knew somebody out there would click on the link and get tangled up in the Internet, but I thought it was going to be Abe.

Malcolm