Gemstar v Microsoft Reader v Stephen King for New eBook Award

Mibrary has announced the finalists for its inaugural award in recognition of contributions 'to the advancement and popularization of electronic books.' The company's award is called The Alan Kay Award for eBook Innovation, after Dr Alan Kay, a man many regard as a founding father of the ebook. The three finalists include Stephen King's Philtrum Press, Gemstar and Microsoft. The winner will be decided by popular vote at Mibrary's Web site and then announced at the BookTech West 2000 conference in San Francisco on December 11.

The finalist were selected for the reasons as follows:

  • Stephen King's Philtrum Press: For the tremendous exposure he gave to the electronic book format through the release of his best-seller "Riding The Bullet", as well as publishing his newest novel, "The Plant" exclusively in electronic installments.
  • Gemstar: For the company's development and licensing of two of the most popular dedicated electronic reading devices, the REB 1100 and the REB 1200.
  • Microsoft Corporation: For the company's Microsoft Reader and ClearType technologies, which brought ebooks to over 1 million consumers in the past six months alone.

As well as giving the winner the Steuben Pillar Crystal, Mibrary will make a $5,000 contribution in the name of the winner to the Association of American Publishers’ "Get Caught Reading" program.

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