극동아시아 전자책(e-Book)의 현황과 수익모델 개발방안에 관한 연구

Abstract

This research introduces the current status of the e-book and the e-paper and presents some research work about development way of the revenue model of the e-book in the Far East Asia(Korea, China and Japan). E-book is a new medium now, but it can also be an old medium in the near future. E-paper can be a new medium. There are many e-book viewing softwares, e-book reading devices and e-book compliers in the Far East Asia(Korea, China and Japan). There are at least four leading Korean e-book service company solutions such as Dreambook, Barobook, Wizbook and Booktopia. There are several Publishers such as Hibulider, C3-Studio, Flip e-book Maker, booktopia eBook Publisher 2.0, Genesoft eBook Publisher(eBook Builder), KTF MultiPack eBook Publisher, Viewers such as FlipAlbum, Booktopia Reader, Hiebook Reader etc. and Devices such as hiebook, AONEPRO eBook, MceBook, MieBook, Mobile eBook, Nexio in Korea. There are at least three leading chinese e-book systems such as SuperStar Digital Library(SuperStar, chao xing), Chinese eBook Network of the Shusheng Technology Ltd.(Scholar, shu sheng zhi jia), Founder Apabi Digital Library(spun-off from BeiDa-Beijing University) and three major fulltext database providers such as Tsinghua Tong Fang, Wanfang Data Co., Weipu Journal Co. in China mainland. Among the three major fulltext journal providers, Tsinghua Tong Fang is much better known both locally and overseas as its product China Academic Journals(CAJ) is by far the most popular and commercially successful. CAJ has an advantage as part of a government project called “China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)” launched in 1998. Three leading Chinese e-book systems have different characteristics and functions for the user. For relatively popular e-Book browsers at present in China mainland, there are Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader, SS Reader, NLC Browser, Shusheng Digital Information Reader, BBook Reader and Apabi Reader. There are several devices such as zhang shang shu fang, han lin 1 hao, iRead and ren jiao dian shu etc. in China mainland. Also, there are many e-book content formats such as CEB, PDG, SEP etc. in China mainland. A Japanese e-book consortium of more than 150 companies, including electronics firm Sharp Corp., pulled the plug on their service before it was launched. This venture attempted to display e-books on either a dedicated reading device or a standard PC. There are many viewers such as T-Time, Bunko viewer, ebi.j Book Reader, Kuraemon Digibook, Kacis reader, C’moA reader, Hatch viewer and LIBRle for Windows etc. in Japan. There are several devices such as Sony Librie, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.(maker of the Panasonic brand) Sigmabook and Toshiba(maker of the TOSHIBA brand) Sigmabook in Japan. Although the names are different, their function is very much the same but mutually incompatible. The developers of e-book viewers, devices and compliers are developing their viewers, devices and compliers independently without bound of trade standards, and it is harmful to all. It is necessary to generate the e-book with standard format in the Far East Asia(Korea, China and Japan). To solve the these problems of e-books, for example, how to format and produce e-books, how to price e-books, how to deliver e-books to customers, how to improve contents qualities and DRM(Digital Rights Management) etc., it is important to cooperate with each other e-book company in Korea, China and Japan and in the long run, it will be helpful to develop the way of the revenue model of the e-books in the Far East Asia(Korea, China and Japan).