Over the past several months, there's been fierce debate raging over what, exactly, ebooks mean to the present and future of publishing. Publishers of traditional, paper-based books are finding it no longer optional to address a growing demand for their content in digital form. Arising from that discussion is the need for people to determine just how we want to view an ebook.

For some, an ebook is simply a different means of content delivery. They will enjoy the latest bestseller or their...