Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is making a “power play” against the Hachette Book Group USA, Rep. Paul Ryan said in an interview on CNBC. The remark from the Wisconsin congressman comes as the fight between Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and the publisher rages on with no clear end in sight.
“As a congressman I had to watch what I say for ethical reasons. It’s a very pressuring thing. I wish this dispute got settled on. Clearly, Amazon is making a kind of a power play here, in my opinion,” he said.
The congressman is also the author of a recently released book, entitled ““The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea.” He noted that it is very hard to buy his book at the moment because of the ongoing dispute between Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and the Hachette Book Group USA. However, he said that he is not so sure whether the electronics commerce giant has a monopoly. Ryan noted that if one chooses to do so, they can easily get his book at Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS).
Nonetheless, Rep. Paul Ryan refrained to comment on whether regulation is needed in the current Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) versus Hachette Book Group USA spat, saying that he is not commenting because he is a member of the U.S. Congress.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s dispute with the book publisher began late in May when Amazon stopped getting pre-orders and reduced inventory of books published by the Hachette Book Group USA. Central to the issue is what is believed to be the two companies’ disagreement over revenue shares in selling books.
The fight has led industry observers to voice their comments with some saying that Amazon is a friend of the publishing industry while others saying that the company’s current spat with the publisher is hurting bookstores and publishing companies.
The online retail giant has argued that e-books should be cheaper prompting authors to strike back saying this tactic being utilized by the company is hurting authors the most.
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