Last week, independent bookstores experienced a significant jump in e-book sales thanks to Unbridled Books’ partnership with ABA, which featured the promotion of 25 e-books for 25 cents.

On Monday, June 13, the Louisiana House of Representatives approved legislation that would require remote retailers with online affiliates in the state to collect and remit sales tax for orders made by Louisiana residents.

On Wednesday, June 1, the Performance Marketing Association, a trade association of online affiliates and large online retailers — including Amazon.com — filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ affiliate nexus law.

While California and Louisiana moved sales tax fairness bills forward this week, Texas and South Carolina blinked in their showdowns with Amazon.com.

Unbridled Books is partnering with the American Booksellers Association for a promotion that highlights 25 Unbridled eBooks for 25 cents. The titles, all Google eBooks™, will be available for 25 cents via IndieCommerce websites for three days, June 9 - 11.

Recent IndieCommerce improvements allow smartphone users who visit a bookstore’s website to see a special, mobile-optimized version of each page.  Customers can also now purchase Google eBooks™ using Givex gift cards.

On Friday, May 6, Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group (USA), and Simon & Schuster announced plans to launch Bookish, a new digital platform for readers, sometime this summer.

This week, ABA CEO Oren Teicher called on South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to support efforts to clarify existing tax laws to require companies with broad networks of online affiliates to collect and remit sales tax to the state.

On Wednesday, May 4, the Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on sales tax fairness. Committee members heard testimony from both opponents and supporters of efforts to ensure that all retailers collect sales tax for online sales.

On Wednesday, May 4,  Connecticut Gov. Dannell Malloy signed a state budget into law that includes an affiliate nexus provision requiring remote retailers with broad networks of online affiliates in the state to collect and remit sales tax.