Harry Potter and the electronic book set to net JK Rowling £100m

The Scotsman, 04 April 2011
By Susan Smith

He is more comfortable with platform 9¾ than the electronic devices of the muggle world, but, despite that, Harry Potter is about to go digital - and potentially earn JK Rowling a further £100 million.
The move to make all seven Harry Potter books available on the iPad and Kindle e-book is expected to transform the electronic book market.

Ms Rowling's agent has confirmed that the author, who had ruled out making the books available electronically for years, was now actively considering plans for e-book versions.

The Edinburgh-based writer has an estimated £620m fortune following record-breaking sales of the Harry Potter books and the success of the film franchise, and publishing experts say the e-book rights could be another major money-spinner for her.
Liz Thomson, editor of book industry website BookBrunch, said: "I wouldn't be surprised if the rights for the e-books are sold for £100m.
"Experts believe that move could revolutionise the world of electronic publishing, triggering rocket sales of e-book readers such as Kindle and the iPad."

Professor Claire Squires, director of Stirling University's centre for international publishing and communication, said: "It is akin to the Beatles allowing their music to be launched on iTunes."

Ms Rowling's spokeswoman confirmed: "The e-book format is now something that is being actively considered."