Back in the ?90s, ebooks were hyped as the next BIG thing, with many pundits boldly proclaiming that print was dead. It never happened. In their first iteration, ebooks failed for many reasons. But now, according to research published by The American Association of Publishers (http://www.publishers.org/main/IndustryStats/documents/S12007Final.pdf), ebooks have risen again like a Phoenix from the ashes, turning in a compound annual sales growth rate of 55% between 2002 and 2007, versus an anemic overall trade book growth rate of only 2.5%. Why the surge of interest in ebooks, and how can ebooks fit into the digital publishing strategies of today?s book publishers? This session, moderated by Mark Coker of Smashwords, will feature a blue ribbon panel of ebook industry experts who will provide attendees diverse opinions on a wide range of ebook industry trends and issues, including DRM, reading device trends, consumer awareness and consumer marketing trends, ebook self-publishing, how Amazon?s digital self-publishing offerings might upset the balance of power in traditional print publishing, digital ink technologies, and more.

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