Date: September 2001
Subject: RepKover, Redux
From: Robert Young
Hi O'Reilly,
For years, one of the reasons for having an O'Reilly book was the RepKover binding. Then along came Java & XML, 1st Edition. It had that faux binding. Later printings of that edition were real RepKover, so I bought the book twice. Now I want to replace Java in a Nutshell and also get Java & XML, 2nd Edition. Both books have the RepKover logo on the back cover, but neither has what makes a RepKover a RepKover: cold glue on a cambric spine.
Quite seriously, I wonder if this is legal. O'Reilly seems to be using the trademark fraudulently. Has the owner of the RepKover trademark given permission for O'Reilly to use the logo on books not bound in the RepKover manner?
It was disheartening to receive the non-RepKover printing of Java & XML, 1st Edition. But to look for the RepKover logo before buying, only to get a book that isn't really RepKover, goes beyond irritating.
Regards,
Robert Young
Mr. Young,
Thank you for writing to us.
All of our vendors are licensed RepKover binders. (Okay, we do have one vendor who uses the original Otabind binding and we use that logo on books manufactured by them.) As you know, RepKover is a variation on Otabind, produced by the same company based out of the Netherlands.
As a matter of fact, Malloy (who printed all of the books you question) was one of the first licensed printers in North America to have RepKover. Jim Mitchell, the now CS manager at Malloy, worked with Werner Rebsamen to help develop RepKover. Materials like glue and spine cloth have evolved over the past few years. Malloy has switched to a warm glue process and has made the move to a paper strip over a cambric one, with our overt approval. Before making these moves, many tests were run for strength, durability, and flexibility. Malloy, like our other vendors, still operates as a licensed RepKover provider with these upgraded modifications.
For an in-depth explanation of the standards and specifications for RepKover/Otabind binding methods, read Jim Mitchell's response to this thread.
Rest assured that nothing is fraudulent about the information we put on our books. When a book is perfect bound due to a high page count, no lay-flat logo appears. And since we use multiple vendors and not all of them can provide us with recycled paper anymore, we've chosen to remove that information from all our books so that we don't misrepresent our product.
As a side note, I should add that O'Reilly has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the use of lay-flat bindings as a cost-savings measure that today's economic climate deemed prudent. O'Reilly will resume providing this feature as soon as possible.
Regards,
Sue Willing
I think psychologists call it enabling negative behaviour, but I feel moved to let other O'Reilly readers know that, for a small fee, they can get non-RepKover animal books (or anybody else's for that matter). The source is Bridgeport National Bindery, in Agawam, MA. (It just happens to be across the river from my hometown, but that's a by the bye.) They do a PVA binding that is a bit like the last version of RepKover you used. It works wonders for the thinner volumes, which just won't stay down.
I really would prefer that you do right by your flock of the faithful, but failing that, there is a source of redemption.
(And, no. I'm not getting a cut. Don't know the people; never met 'em.)
Robert
An update:
I got my books back from Bridgeport National Bindery. They did a fine job, although it did take some time. Just thought you might want to pass this on to other ORA book-ers who long for RepKover. (And just to be clear, BNB didn't do a true RepKover with cambric and that perfect cold glue.)
Robert
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