Peter Hudson

BitLit is a mobile app that allows readers to obtain free or discounted ebooks of printed works they already own. The company made headlines recently after partnering with HarperCollins to distribute a select number of its titles and is gradually bringing more publishers into the fold.

Bitlit, an app that allows you to take your physical book collection and convert it to digital, has completed their seed round today. They've declined to say how big the round was, but among the investors is Michael Serbinis, who's had plenty of reading tech experience as founder and former CEO of eReader company Kobo.

To convert a book with Bitlit, you verify ownership by taking two pictures: one of the book's cover, and the other with your name written on the copyright page of the book.

Just after Labor Day, Amazon announced the October debut of Kindle MatchBook. "For thousands of qualifying books," purchased new in print going back to 1995, said the company website, customers can get "the Kindle edition for $2.99, $1.99, $0.99, or free." Publishers and authors can opt in to the program, but currently only a tiny fraction of Amazon titles are available.