Have we spoke too soon?

This was just posted on the Virgin Media 'Big debates' board a short time ago, in response to my saying Tony's book had been pulled by Amazon for legal reasons.

Yes, it was withdrawn for legal reasons, the reasons being that Amazon had no asked for permission to distribute this book, neither had they reached any agreement with it's authors/publishers.

Tony Bennett himself wrote to Amazon to request that they stop selling the book (which isn't even printed yet) immediately, until an agreement has been made.

The book will be available on The Madeleine Foundation website (paypal available) just as soon as it is printed.

Now something seems odd here. Why would a respected bookstore like Amazon attempt to sell a book without the author's concent? They must have been given a proof copy from someone? If it looks like this book is still a threat, what are our options? What's our next step? Would contacting Paypal, in an attempt to suspend his account achieve anything?

Hi Vee, not sure whether I buy what that poster has said, its probably a face saving exercise.

However, they must have been in some negotiations for the poster to say they hadn't "reached" an agreement. Amazon also must of known it wasn't available for distribution or they wouldn't have been taking advance orders.

Nah, there's more to this, I would suggest its more propaganda from you know who.

I think all we can continue to do, is keep giving it as much negative publicity as we can and maybe encourage other pro forums to do what they can ie with reference to Vexatious Litigant. Re Paypal, I don't think you have anything to lose, I believe someone has already taken this initiative!

vee8 wrote:This was just posted on the Virgin Media 'Big debates' board a short time ago, in response to my saying Tony's book had been pulled by Amazon for legal reasons.

Yes, it was withdrawn for legal reasons, the reasons being that Amazon had no asked for permission to distribute this book, neither had they reached any agreement with it's authors/publishers.

Tony Bennett himself wrote to Amazon to request that they stop selling the book (which isn't even printed yet) immediately, until an agreement has been made.

The book will be available on The Madeleine Foundation website (paypal available) just as soon as it is printed.

Now something seems odd here. Why would a respected bookstore like Amazon attempt to sell a book without the author's concent? They must have been given a proof copy from someone? If it looks like this book is still a threat, what are our options? What's our next step? Would contacting Paypal, in an attempt to suspend his account achieve anything?

I suggest, what might well be worthwhile, is to point out to Amazon some of the factual inaccuracies in the book that are also potentially libellous -- inaccuracies such as that Mark Harrison indicated Madeleine died in the apartment. I need to research the point and maybe someone can jog my memory. But I'm sure it's written in the files that someone called Carlos (Carlos Anjos?), a PJ inspector, said Madeleine had died in the apartment. 3A's favourite, Paulo Reis, quotes fairly extensively from Amaral's book what Amaral says Harrison said -- and even by Amaral's account it's nothing like Madeleine died in the apartment.

It's also crucial that Bennett should claim there were two highly trained cadaver dogs. Eddie (we'll excuse his blunder in seizing a potentially crucial piece of forensic evidence in his mouth and tossing it in the air and call him 'highly trained'.) It's (just) possible that what Bennett refers to as the other dog is the Portuguese ground-sniffer dog that, apparently, picked up the living scent of Madeleine and traced it to some distance from the apartment.

How about I give the link in one of the non-public fora to the 30 condensed 'reasons' [why Madeleine wasn't abducted] and we rake it over?

Of course, the reason Amazon should be interested is that if it's wrong and libellous, Amazon will be sued too.

Doubtless there are other errors. The synopsis I've just given is from his condensed '30 points'

Another of his 'reasons' is the testimony of Pamala Fenn, that she heard Madeleine crying for over an hour before someone came to check on her. Apart from the obvious question, how does that prove she died in the appartment, Mrs Fenn is on tv record DENYING ever making such a claim.

vee8 wrote:Another of his 'reasons' is the testimony of Pamala Fenn, that she heard Madeleine crying for over an hour before someone came to check on her. Apart from the obvious question, how does that prove she died in the appartment, Mrs Fenn is on tv record DENYING ever making such a claim.

I think we need to be cautious with that one, though, Vee, because I think the official PJ files have Mrs Fenn making that claim.