Almost 3,000 Books now able to be accessed on the iPhone app

Eduard, there appears to be a problem with your account. Please call customer support (800-875-6467) and they will be able to help you.

Yes - please encourage IVP to release their books to the iPhone - after all we have paid for a licence to read them! I just bought the Tyndale Commentaries on pre-pub with an expectation that I would be able to read them on the phone, but at this stage it appears I'll be diasppointed. Just as I'm disappointed not to have the Bible Speaks Today on my phone.

 

If you can help Logos, that would be terrific!

 

Michael

Nathan Fast:

Do you know the reason for the partial inclusion of this publisher on the iPhone titles?

Yes, the publishers did not give permission for all titles so Logos must wait for permission from the publisher on each resource.  

AAvanderLeij:

why would you (and therefor I) need new licences.

because on Logos' part it may mean making changes to the original license agreements that they have with publishers... and it may be more or less difficult to do that depending on the books and/or publishers

AAvanderLeij:

I'm disappointed with this list. I've bought specific books that are now not available on iPod.

 Logos does not have unlimited digital rights to these books, they only have a limited right from the publishers and Logos is bound by the Law of the United States to use these books within their bounds of their contractual relationship.  If you are upset, then you need to contact each publisher.  Logos is only the "middle-man".  They are trying to work with each Publisher to secure the rights to give you access on multiple platforms.  

AAvanderLeij:

And to be honest, I do not understand it

Then you need to do some research on publishing rights.  These are established by US Law and by contractual relationships with individual companies... not Logos.  

AAvanderLeij:

I have bought the rights to use these books digitally

No, that is where you are wrong.  You bought the rights to use these books within the Logos platform designed for your PC or Mac.  Nothing more.  You don't have the right to digitally post the books on the internet... digitally reformat then for distribution on a CD.  You do not have the rights to digitally resell these works.  Again, your confusion is in thinking you "own" the digital rights.

AAvanderLeij:

why would you (and therefor I) need new licences.

Because the publishers perceive access to their books (they still own the books, not you) to be limited to your Logos on the computer.  Logos is advancing a new technology on iPhone.  Now they must go back and renegotiate their contracts with each individual publisher and obtain new contractual permission before giving you access on the iPhone.

I do understand your confusion, but let me try to help you understand.  You do not have rights to use your digital book excepting within the Logos engine.  Even the authors of these books give up their own rights to use their own books in any way they choose.  

I think if you do some research in this area, you will realize just how much Logos has already accomplished in a very difficult industry.

Blessings

Dear Joe,

I understand what you are saying, I'm just arguing that the system is out of control. I am buying a book, and I want to read it, whereever, and however I want.
The system is out of control if you have to get new licences for every new application, especially if it is for the same software (and yes I know, the iPod app can be seen as different software as the pc version, but not for me, it is Logos, and Logos is Logos, no matter where I use it. Do I have to pay also differently because I use it on a laptop and a desktop?)

The simple fact is that I have bought a book , and I want to read it, also with modern equipment.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming Logos, I understand their limitations.I love Logos, that's why I'm so disappointed with the limited nr of books that are available, despite all the money that I've spent allready. The main point is that these laws are wrong, when they limit me to read my books, which I have bought. I hope that logos will make their contracts now a bit wider, anticipating on future technological developments.

AAvanderLeij:

I've just spent the money to upgrade my package, and have almost bought the iPod for the use of Logos, and now I discover that nothing interesting is available for me. Very, very disappointing. I really hope that you will sort this out soon, this is not good marketing.

Most publishing rights contracts are very specific. We've been licensing books since 1992, and in those days many contracts were incredibly specific -- some limited us to floppy disk distribution, for example.

We, of course, have always wanted the widest rights possible, but they weren't always available. Traditional print rights contracts were extremely specific; an author might license one publisher hardback and paperback rights but reserve calendar and cookbook rights for licensing to a specialty publisher. (Yes, I've seen cookbook rights in a contract for a non-cookbook....)

In recent years publishers have been loosening up and signing contracts with a wider definition of electronic rights, but we've got 10,000+ titles over two decades of contracts. It's going to take a while.

And, of course, your list is of "hot titles" -- well known, strong sellers. Guess what? The publisher knows they're hot too, so they want to hold onto and control those rights as carefully as possible. As a general rule of thumb, the more you (and lots of other people) want the book, the more careful and restrictive publishers (and authors) are in licensing rights.

:-)

But we're working on it, and expecting that almost everything will be available in the coming year. 

Thanks for your reply Bob.

As I said earlier, I do understand the position of Logos, and I'm not blaming them. It's the publishers point of view that I don't get.
If I, as the customer, the reader, have bought a book, then I should be able to read it in whatever format I want too. I should not have to wait for the publisher, and in this case, Logos, to make new contracts (which probably will cost you some money aswell I guess). And especially when Logos already has a contract. If I wanted to buy it from another company, then I could understand that I have to buy it again, that's almost likely buying a second copy of the book. Just like I have already the pulpit commentary in digital form, and if I would want it in Logos, I would have to buy it again.

Anyway, it's good to see that you expect that most of the books will be available this year or next, can hardly wait.
In the mean time, I've decided also to wait for the new iPod G4, in the hope that this one will have a camera.

Greetings,
André

PS 10 000 titles, that means I have 9000 to go

I've just recently bought an iPod Touch and installed the Logos App.  This is absolutely amazing!  Now I don't have to lug my laptop back and forth from home to office when I need to do some exegetical work, sermon prep, or lesson planning.  Logos just keeps getting better, and it's a wonderfully affirming example of how modern technology can be used in positive ways.  I'm assuming you've got plans to keep expaning the list?  Great work!

Tom Bartzsch:

OK - please tell the publishers I have NO INTEREST whatsoever in reading ANY of the books I have licensed in Logos.

 

Me neither. I only want the KJV and maybe Mathew Henry's Commentary on my iphone.