Document-sharing site Scribd and online self-publishing service Lulu have teamed up to offer Lulu's free ebooks in Scribd's iPaper format. iPaper is designed to be a versatile cross-platform means of displaying different document types online. Key draws include the ability to embed docs in any webpage, including your manuscript in Scribd's library, and adding ads to your document.

Lulu is a popular self-publishing site, handling print versions and ebook versions of manuscripts, so getting them to start rolling out iPaper is a big win for Scribd. It's not going to be available for all Lulu books at first, just the most popular free ones. If this catches on, though, the two companies will have all the publishing bases covered, from printed books to iPaper ebooks.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

Last week NBC and News Corp announced the name of their new online video venture: Hulu. In the time since then, TechCrunch uncovered the fact that Hulu translates to "cease" and "desist" in Swahili. And now online publishing site Lulu has filed a lawsuit against Hulu.

OK, so the names sound similar. But what exactly is Lulu alleging in its suit?

• Trademark infringement
• Unfair and deceptive trade practics
• federal cyberpiracy

No, seriously. That's all in the first line of the press release. Lulu claims that the Hulu name was chosen because Fox and News Corp "have intentionally attempted to create confusion in the marketplace." Because there's a pretty good chance that people will confuse a site that lets you watch TV shows online with a site that lets you publish your own books.

OK, well, Lulu does claim that in addition to online vieo, Hulu plans to offer products and services that are similar to those provided by Lulu. But the way we figure it, that means Hulu will be selling Heroes mugs and T-shirts.

The suit doesn't appear to seek any monetary damages. Lulu just wants Hulu to change its name.
[via Lost Remote]

Amazon has decided to get in on the POD game launching a POD book publishing service this week through CreateSpace, a company they acquired in 2005. CreateSpace will now let users create and sell their own books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, direct download video, and HD DVDs with a Blu-ray option in the works.

Up until now if you wanted to get your book or CD out to the public on the cheap your best print on demand (POD) option was LuLu a site that allows users to do all of the stuff CreateSpace can now do and lists their book in Books in Print and places like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. While CreateSpace isn't going to get your listed at B&N they do guarantee a listing on Amazon (which apparently LuLu can't) and give DVD authors an automatic listing for their DVD on IMDb.

CreateSpace also offers extras for book authors like making the book eligable for Amazon specific programs like Search Inside!™, Amazon Prime™, Super Saver Shipping™ and other Amazon.com programs. ISBN numbers and UPCs are also free on CreateSpace, where as they will cost you a a little cash on LuLu. LuLu however offers users more printing options and the ability to list the book on Amazon's competitors sites.

If you think you've written the next bestseller and can't find a publisher (or don't want to look for one) one of these can be a quick way to that cool "Published Author" title

[via ReadWriteWeb]