April 08, 2004

By: Grace Milden
Website: http://www.1st-in-ebooks.com

Adobe, PricewaterhouseCoopers and InterTrust join forces to build end-to-end eBook publishing and delivery solutions around the world

Continuing its drive to deliver leading software solutions for eBooks, Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced an agreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers and InterTrust Technologies Corporation to develop eBook publishing solutions using core Adobe Acrobat and Adobe PDF technologies. Today's announcement combines the strengths of Adobe's eBooks software with PricewaterhouseCoopers' global integration expertise and its DigiHub digital rights management solution using InterTrust technology.

According to the American Association of Publishers, the eBook market is expected to be a $2.3 billion industry by 2005. "This partnership is a significant step in Adobe's commitment to provide complete and open solutions for any business that wants to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity in the eBook space," said Joe Eschbach, vice president of ePaper Solutions at Adobe. "PricewaterhouseCoopers' world-class integration services using InterTrust technology coupled with Adobe's demonstrated leadership in eBooks software will provide a significant solution to ensure the growth of the eBooks market."

Working in concert with its DigiHub service, PricewaterhouseCoopers will use InterTrust technology to build integrated solutions around Adobe Acrobat software and Adobe Portable Document Format to address eBook processes, spanning from creation through secure distribution. Based on customer requirements, the Acrobat products PricewaterhouseCoopers will use in building eBook solutions include, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe PDF Merchant and Adobe Acrobat Reader with Web Buy.

"Our clients are looking for solutions to secure the distribution and management of their intellectual property. Adobe offers an extremely powerful set of tools for electronic book creation as well as for distributing that content via their Adobe PDF file format through the Acrobat Reader with Web Buy," said John Stubbs, DigiHub partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Working with Adobe and InterTrust means we're now able to provide what our clients are looking for—flexible rights management and control which enables new business models." PricewaterhouseCoopers' DigiHub service—developed with InterTrust technology—will enhance these publishing solutions by providing scaleable, full-featured digital rights management systems.

DigiHub solutions offer clients an end-to-end global environment for digital commerce by facilitating the delivery, aggregation, analysis and protection of digital content and usage of data such as Adobe PDF files.

"Adobe's proven technology with products such as Adobe Acrobat and Adobe PDF offer publishing customers a universal platform to view, download and share eBooks and documents electronically," said Victor Shear, Chairman and CEO, InterTrust Technologies. "InterTrust provides a neutral foundation which allows commercial parties to confidently interact. Together—Adobe, PricewaterhouseCoopers and InterTrust proved an ideal combination for supporting trusted document commerce."

About The Author:

Grace Milden is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-ebooks.com.  A source of information on creating, writing and publishing an e-book.