Kuwaiti commereial publishers attitudes towards E books

Abstract EN

Objectives: This study investigates the attitudes of Kuwaiti commercial publishers towards e-book publishing.

It aims to find out factors that drive as well as hinder them to publish e- books.

Method: The study was based on Winston’s model for the development and diffusion of communication technology.

A questionnaire was designed and distributed to twenty Kuwaiti commercials publishers who are members of the Arab Publishers’ Association.

Results: It was found that 30% of surveyed publishers publish e-books.

No correlation was found between publishers’ years in operation and the decision to produce e-books.

Nine barriers preventing or delaying e-book adoption were investigated: readers’ preference of printed books was agreed by 90% of publishers, lack of demand by readers for e-books 70%, e-piracy 50%, lack of knowledge of e-book technologies 40%, difficulty in pricing e-books 35%, lack of knowledge of e-book marketing 35%, e-books being cheaper which decreases eventual revenues 30%, lack of knowledge about online money collection 15%, and difficulty writing contracts with authors 15%.

Eight motivators promot¬ing e-book adoption were investigated: e-books’ ability to reach new markets 85%, eliminating book logistics 85%, availability of the Internet and e-reading devices 80%, over¬coming book censorship 70%, e-books costing less that printed books 70%, wide market of Arabic speaking countries 60%, availability of effective technologies against piracy 50%, and author demand 10%.

Conclusion: Publishers agree to almost all surveyed e-book production drivers.

They are however deterred due to barriers, especially the ones related to readers’ preferences to printed books, and book piracy.