JMPA to Trial Mobile Publishing

Japan Magazine Publishers Assoc. joins 100 titles for new online & mobile two-year trial project launches Jan. 27 [ENG] http://bit.ly/4o377o

Fifty publishing companies including major firms Bungeishunju, Kodansha, and Shogakukan have teamed up to launch a joint Web site that will sell magazine articles online.

As many as 100 magazines including weekly publications Shukan Bunshun, Shukan Gendai and Sunday Mainichi, and women’s magazines such as CanCam will take part in the Web site.

The Japan Magazine Publishers Association had considered launching a Web site, and the publishers reached the decision that there was no future for them if they weren’t equipped for business in the digital age. A committee was subsequently set up in August to address the issue. It has been discussing ways to charge for articles, and is considering systems to align data and manage copyright issues.