Part of Google’s vision, he noted, is that the digital content for any book a consumer purchases would be stored on that consumer’s ‚Äúcloud library‚Äù (on Google’s servers) indefinitely, enabling him to access that same content, at any time now or in the future, on any digital device as well.

One of the most important parts of this settlement document … is that it allows rights holders to exercise a very significant degree of control over what parts of their books are displayed, how they want the books priced, and so on. And, of course, rightsholders are entitled to remove their books entirely from the settlement if they wish.

Silicon Alley Insider observes that Apple may be avoiding e-books for several reasons. These include a small audience relative to the amount of money needed for e-book publishing, which could also fail to sell more hardware, the main purpose of iTunes and the App Store. Enough e-book apps already exist on the App Store moreover, from which Apple pulls 30 percent of the revenue.

Nick Bubb, retail analyst at Pali International, said the convenience and pricing of the supermarkets’ offer has led to their rising book sales. He said: “If you are in a mind to buy the latest bestseller and it’s 50% off, why would you head to Waterstone’s or W H Smith?

“The effect of channel-stuffing blockbuster books is being felt on bookstores, large and small,” said Michael Norris, senior analyst at Simba Information, who added that the total number of bookstores in the U.S. has shrunk significantly over the years while the number of big-box department stores has jumped. “They have a place in the retailing ecosystem, but when you combine the convenience of the “non-bookstores” with their ability to sell popular books at a loss you get a volatile situation for the entire industry.”