Dive Brief:

• UPDATE: HarperCollins issued a brief statement Monday April 13 that it had “reached an agreement with Amazon and our books will continue to be available on the Amazon print and digital platforms.”

• Amazon had said that not only Hachette but also Simon & Schuster and Macmillan agreed to the contract offered to HarperCollins.

• In recent years HarperCollins has taken significant steps to bypass Amazon and create its own e-book and e-commerce channels.

Dive Insight:

HarperCollins seems to be ahead in the e-commerce game, at least when it comes to book publishing, an area that in general has been slow to react to Amazon’s push into e-books. The publisher has formed its own partnership with Accenture to sell e-book versions of many of its top titles, and in other ways has pushed into retail that for a publisher is quite innovative. 

After the public showdown between Hachette and Amazon last year, HarperCollins is surely cognizant of Amazon’s tactics, but seems unfazed. So far, Amazon is still featuring HarperCollins titles. 

UPDATE: This agreement apparently resembles one signed earlier by the other publishers, but HarperCollins is seen here as having prevailed in its effort to maintain control and shake its need for Amazon. The tables certainly seem to have turned in this battle with publishers, which was originally launched by Amazon.