Events: IDPF Voting: Board Nomination

Dear fellow IDPF Members,

I am committed to represent and promote the broadest community of stakeholders in my service to IDPF. These include the interests of leading technology and publishing companies, as well as the interests of start-up digital book businesses and software entrepreneurs. I will promote that the growing network of European and Asian technology and publishing partners join our effort, along with education, information and mobile content companies.

IDPF was originally formed as the “Open eBook Forum”. I believe we need to keep our directions and initiatives open and independent to insure that no single technology vendor or platform dominates the discussion and direction for this industry. As an independent global distributor for digital book products for 20 years I have gained the trust and understanding of the varying and competing interests within our eBook market. I will keep the IDPF open to enable and grow opportunities for publishers, technologists, and businesses to benefit from our association and our standards efforts.

Many of you are aware that I have been fortunate to be involved with bringing eBooks and digital book content to tens of millions of new readers through thousands of public libraries, schools, retail bookstores and digital marketplaces. This work is continuing in the US and worldwide. I am committed to utilizing eBook technologies to make a difference for those where electronic book content opens new avenues for reading, education, or to provide accessibility where needed.

 A few of the key IDPF accomplishments I have led or contributed to include:

• Planned and chaired successful IDPF educational programs including the eBooks in Education Conference, the eBooks in the Public Library Conference, the Tablet PC Publishing Conference and more recently Digital Book 2007, Digital Book 2008 and Digital Book 2009. Each event resulted in profitable sponsor and exhibitor participation and was very positive event for eBooks I am taking a similar leadership role for planning the IDPF Spring 2010 Digital Book Conference.
• I recruited and have helped our current Executive Director and prior Executive Directors with administrative and corporate affairs. 
•  I have served IDPF as President and provided organizational and legal assistance to our association. As an attorney I am active with copyright, patent, and related intellectual property issues that impact our work at IDPF. 
• I chaired the IDPF Intellectual Property Committee which completed the IDPF IP policy which respects the interests of property right holders and seeks a balanced policy to support open source systems to grow our industry.

• I am an original member of the OeBF Publication Structure 1.0 Authoring Committee (1999) and have provided continual support to the OeBF/IDPF since its formation.

I am proud of the long standing partnerships I have established with publishing houses, standards bodies, and technology companies. For members who I have not yet enjoyed the pleasure of working with, I welcome the chance to discuss your interests in the digital book and digital publishing industry and how the IDPF can help you accomplish your goals.

Steve Potash
spotash@overdrive.com

(216) 573 6886 x201

CEO
OverDrive, Inc.

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