Amazon's ebook distribution contracts could be illegal, says EU

Amazon.com’s ebook distribution deals are coming under close scrutiny from the European Commission, which has begun a formal antitrust investigation into the company’s contracts with publishers.The probe will focus on clauses in Amazon’s contracts that require publishers to tell the company about more favorable or similar terms and conditions they offer competitors, or ensure that Amazon is offered terms as least as good as the competition, the Commission said in a news release.Such clauses can make it more difficult for other ebook sellers to compete with Amazon by developing new and innovative products, the Commission said, adding that it will investigate if the clauses limit competition and reduce consumer choice. If that is the case, Amazon could violate European Union antitrust rules that prohibit the abuse of a dominant market position.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #european commission #close scrutiny #news release #ebook sellers

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Amazon's ebook distribution contracts could be illegal, says EU'


European commission to investigate Amazon's ebook dominance

US tech sector’s problems with Brussels deepen as competition chief focuses on allegedly restrictive contract clausesThe European commission has launched a competition inquiry into Amazon’s dominant market position in ebooks, as Brussels steps up its scrutiny of US tech groups. The EU’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing houses #online retailer #rival retailers


EU Regulators Investigate Amazon's E-Book Practices

The move continues a trend of cracking down on the operations of major tech companies in Europe.In recent months, European regulators increasingly have been scrutinizing the practices of U.S. tech giants that dominate their respective industries, focusing their investigatory efforts on Amazon,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recent months #tech giants #respective industries #european commission #rival retailers


Ebook Distributors Meet to Discuss Common EU Digital Market

In Madrid, several top ebook distributors meet to discuss mutual challenges in book publishing and the possibility of a common European digital market. The post Ebook Distributors Meet to Discuss Common EU Digital Market appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishing


Amazon’s European Woes Continue With New EU Investigation

The European Union's anti-antitrust crusade continues with an investigation into Amazon's ebook distribution deals. The post Amazon’s European Woes Continue With New EU Investigation appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post amazon #eu investigation #european union


Amazon in European ebook probe

The European Commission open a formal antitrust investigation into Amazon's ebook business amid concern the online retailer stifles competition. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


NACS to Drop Suit over Amazon Contract with Purdue

After getting information about special programs and Amazon’s integration with Purdue’s learning management system and adoptions, the National Association of College Stores is satisfied. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #national association #college stores


Amazon, HarperCollins reach print and ebook deal

Amazon.com Inc. and HarperCollins Publishers have agreed to a multiyear deal covering the sale of print and ebooks, the latest agreement between the Web retailer and a major publishing house... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook deal #harpercollins publishers


Amazon and HarperCollins renew friendship with multi-year contract

Amazon started mending its tattered relationship with the big five publishers last year, signing deals with Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and even Hachette. Now it's HarperCollins' turn to make peace with the e-commerce giant, according to The Wall Str... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #signing deals #simon schuster #e-commerce giant


Oyster breaks out of its subscription shell, targets Amazon with ebook store

E-book subscription service Oyster has opened an online book store, a move that pits the young company against heavyweight Amazon.Oyster’s ebook store has the support of the top five publishers in the U.S. While Amazon also offers books from these publishers—Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan,... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook store #young company #simon schuster—


Hachette Livre's Nourry discusses Amazon and ebooks

Arnaud Nourry, the chairman and chief executive of Hachette Livre discusses the terms impasse with Amazon and the future for print and 'e' Hachette Livre will move into its new purpose-built offices in Vanves (on the outskirts of Paris) on April 7. Even though the new building is very elegant,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette livre #arnaud nourry


Purdue University sued over contract with Amazon

A US campus retailing group has filed a lawsuit against Purdue University in Indiana, claiming that it is withholding public information about its contract with Amazon. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #purdue university


No reduced tax rate for ebooks, top EU court rules

E-books must be subject to the full rate of value-added tax (VAT), and European Union countries may not extend tax exemptions for books to include ebooks, the EU’s highest court ruled Thursday, adding that it considers downloadable ebooks to be services.Most EU member states, with the exception... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #physical books #paper books #vat rate #lower rate #limited number


Amazon tool converts print into ebooks

Amazon customers in the US can now convert their print titles into Kindle books with a software package called Kindle Convert. Currently available in the US for computers running Windows 7 and 8, the software helps users to scan in pages of their print books, converting the image into usable... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon customers #print titles #kindle books #print books #include features


Amazon Kindle Convert turns paper books into ebooks, if you're patient

Got books to digitize and plenty of patience? Amazon's Kindle Convert software will let you scan them at home. As spotted by The Ebook Reader, Kindle Convert is a $50 PC application that turns printed pages into Kindle ebooks. It should work with most scanners, provided they support at least... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #handwritten notes #kindle book #ebook reader #kindle format


Global Ebook Retailers Race to Beat Amazon into Latin America

Global Spanish-language ebook retailers are racing to capture Latin American readers and bolster ebook sales before Amazon makes a big push into the region. The post Global Ebook Retailers Race to Beat Amazon into Latin America appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #beat amazon #latin america #amazon makes #big push


Amazon hints at ebook price hike on Jan 1st

Amazon has warned that ebook prices will rise come January following a change in VAT law in an email to self-published authors. On 1st January Amazon will “make a one-time adjustment to convert VAT-exclusive list prices provided to us to VAT-inclusive list prices” resulting in a rise in the list... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook prices #self-published authors #list price


Amazon and Hachette call a truce in their ebook pricing war

Well, that was anticlimactic. Online retail titan Amazon and the publisher Hachette have been sniping at each other for months because they couldn't see eye to eye on how much ebooks should cost (and how much revenue Amazon should get off of them).... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher hachette


Top literary agent Andrew Wylie calls Amazon Isis-like distribution channel

Wylie calls for fellow publishers to stand firm and not to blink during negotiations over ebook royalties with digital retailerHe is the sinister jackal of the literary world who counts Salman Rushdie, Philip Roth and Martin Amis among his formidable roster of clients.Andrew Wylie, arguably the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook royalties #philip roth #martin amis #andrew wylie #online retailer


Amazon agrees ebook pricing deal

Online retailer Amazon reaches a deal with publisher Simon & Schuster over the pricing of ebooks. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon brings Kindle Unlimited ebook subscriptions to the UK

Whether we like it or not, Amazon nearly always launches its new products and services in the US first. It happened with its Fire-branded tablets, set-top box and smartphone. The same can be said for its all-you-can-read ebook service, Kindle... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #set-top box