Valve fails to get out of paying its EU geo-blocking fine

Valve has failed to convince a court that it didn't infringe EU law by geo-blocking activation keys, according to a new ruling. The company argued that, based on copyright law, publishers had the right to charge different prices for games in different countries. However, the EU General Court confirmed that its geo-blocking actions "infringed EU competition law"and that copyright law didn't apply."Copyright is intended only to ensure for the right holders concerned protection of the right to exploit commercially the marketing or the making available of the protected subject matter, by the grant of licences in return for payment of remuneration," it wrote in a statement. "However, it does not guarantee them the opportunity to demand the highest possible remuneration or to engage in conduct such as to lead to artificial price differences between the partitioned national markets."The original charges centered around activation keys. The commission said Valve and five publishers (Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media and ZeniMax) agreed to use geo-blocking so that activation keys sold in some countries — like Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary and Latvia — would not work in other member states. That would prevent someone in, say, Germany buying a cheaper key in Latvia, where prices are lower. However, doing so violates the EU's Digital Single Market rules, which enforces an open market across the EU. The five developers were given a reduced fine of €7.8 million (over $9.4... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-09-27 12:20:53 UTC ]
News tagged with: #koch media #zenimax agreed #czech republic #member states #germany buying #cheaper key #open market #reduced fine #full €1 #locking keys #region locks #local laws #original €1 #ten days #copyright law

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Authors Guild Releases Report On Translation Pay, Work Conditions

A new report released by the Authors Guild showed that more than 65% of the literary translators responding to a survey earn less than $20,000 a year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook plans to stop paying publishers to make news feed videos

According to publishing sources, the original Facebook Live deals, which evolved into live and VOD licensing arrangements with 300 video partners, are going away by the end of the year. The post Facebook plans to stop paying publishers to make news feed videos appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple’s App of the Year Makes Sense If You've Been Paying Attention to the News

For a picture of what life was like in 2017, look no further than the apps, movies, books, and music that topped the App Store and iTunes charts. This week, Apple revealed the most popular titles that iOS users downloaded over the course of the year. In terms of media, the top choices weren’t... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2017-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon under fire for 'refusal' to pay Scottish real living wage

Amazon is under scrutiny for its apparent reluctance to sign up to the Scottish government’s "fair work" programme and pay employees the Scottish real living wage.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Point Blank buys fine art murder mystery

Oneworld's literary crime and suspense imprint Point Blank has acquired a new murder mystery series by fine artist and pet portraitist Ali Carter. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Justice Department sues to block AT&T's purchase of Time Warner, which vows a fight

The U.S. Department of Justice has sued to block AT&T’s proposed $85-billion purchase of Time Warner Inc. — one of the largest media mergers in American history — arguing that a bulked-up AT&T would stifle competition and lead to higher prices for consumers. “This merger would greatly... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie expertise pays dividends at BBDPA awards

Independent publishers and small presses stormed this year’s British Book Design & Production Awards, claiming a staggering 16 of the 18 awards on the night. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Springer Nature blocks journal articles in China

Publisher Springer Nature has blocked access to 1,000 journal articles in China. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Philip Pullman on indie booksellers, graphic novels, festival pay and more

As well as writing, Philip Pullman has been outspoken on a number of issues affecting fellow authors over the years. Here, we take a look at some of his best quotes. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hawaii judge blocks Trump's new travel ban

A federal judge in Hawaii on Tuesday issued an order blocking major parts of President Trump’s newest travel ban, suggesting it violated immigration law. The decision from U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu stops the administration’s travel restrictions nationwide before they were... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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IGN acquires pay-what-you-want game and book retailer Humble Bundle

Media conglomerate IGN has acquired Humble Bundle, the pay-what-you-want gaming, book and software collection retailer that raises money for charitable causes. In a blog post, Humble Bundle cofounder and CEO Jeffrey Rosen noted that his company will... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brisk trading reported as agents refute Reidy claims that Brexit opens EU market

Agents at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair have dismissed Simon & Schuster c.e.o. Carolyn Reidy’s assertion that exiting the European Union will affect UK publishers’ ability to secure market exclusivity in Europe. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Great EU novel' to MacLehose

MacLehose Press has acquired a "great European Union novel" set in the Brussels headquarters by Austrian writer Robert Menasse. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EC orders Amazon to pay €250m in back taxes

Amazon must pay €250m in back taxes after the European Commission judged the company had enjoyed tax benefits in Luxembourg which were illegal under EU state aid rules. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Disgraced wellness author Belle Gibson fined £240k

Wellness blogger Belle Gibson, who lied about having cancer, has been ordered to repay $410,000 (£240,055) to the state of Victoria in Australia, it has been reported. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BA welcomes EU Commission's plans for fairer taxation

The Booksellers Association (BA) has welcomed the EU Commission's plans for fair taxation of the digital economy as part of its Digital Single Market strategy. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tracey Armstrong on Women in Publishing: ‘Still Striving for Equal Pay’

Copyright Clearance Center's Tracey Armstrong is on Frankfurt Book Fair's 'The Markets' panel of female publishing executives. The post Tracey Armstrong on Women in Publishing: ‘Still Striving for Equal Pay’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook moves to block offensive terms from targeted advertising campaigns

Advertisers on Facebook no longer can use offensive search terms such as “Jew hater” and “how to burn Jews” to target specific audiences, the company said Wednesday. The new policy comes a week after ProPublica published a story demonstrating how advertisers could reach thousands of Facebook... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher pays tribute to 'Titan of theatre' Peter Hall

James Hogan, publisher at Oberon Books, has paid tribute to the late Peter Hall, founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, as a "Titan of the theatre" and treasured author who helped to transform the fortunes of the small independent press 15 years ago.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Let's do something about publishing's gender pay gap

Julia Kingsford asks what can be done to close the gender pay, and C-suite, gap in publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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