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Since it's trivial for an author to sell his works on his own website (and I've bought ebooks from such author sites), it's hard to see how Amazon could make itself a monopoly.

Also, selling an ebook via Amazon does not preclude you from selling it yourself or through other venues.

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Amazon has a program called KDP. If an author puts their book into the KDP program they receive 70% royalties, but they have to be exclusive on Amazon. If they don't want to be on KDP, they only receive 35% royalties, but they can sell anywhere. That's how Amazon is making itself into a monopoly.

edit: I mean KDP Select, not KDP.

That might work well if you're a known author or for buyers willing to spend time digging around but it doesn't help new authors reach a mass market.

Self publishing will have some sort of a positive impact on things but the reality is that large aggregators will still have a very significant role for discovery and in the mass market.

You're right, but my point was that if Amazon became an abusive monopoly, that would spur alternatives.

BTW, I found some of those author self-sell web sites because of Reddit postings about their books. In these days of social media, I don't think the traditional gatekeeper role still applies.

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