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 ]
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French publishers are making a stand against ad blocking, again. After successful trials in March, 80 percent of the country’s top publishers are serving messages to ad-blocking users. Publishers are taking a tougher stance this time, with the likes of Le Monde blocking content to those who have... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2016-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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His Dark Materials author has appealed for EU directive to be introduced in Britain, to block ‘unfair practices that currently prevent authors making a living’His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman has welcomed a “badly need[ed]” new proposal from the European Commission that would protect... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German publishing giant Gruner + Jahr has been experimenting with a range of different methods to reduce ad blocking levels over the last year. The latest to receive attention is its core news title Stern. For this it's gone for a mixed approach of humor and strategically placed ad blocker... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2016-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Publishers Association has called on the government to keep European Union trade barriers to an “absolute minimum” and to encourage investment in the UK via stronger copyright rules during its Brexit negotiations. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This week, it emerged that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies author Seth Grahame-Smith was being sued by his publisher to return his advance. From Julian Assange to Amy Schumer, he isn’t alone...Though he’s fallen out spectacularly with his publisher, Seth Grahame-Smith at least has the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Measures are part of a series of planned European commission changes designed to strengthen rights of creators and publishersNews publishers would have stronger rights to demand payment from digital giants such as Google and Facebook in exchange for using their content, under proposed European... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jason Kint, head of publisher group Digital Content Next, believes the ad blocking crisis is a terrible opportunity to waste. This is a chance for publishers, leaning on their direct relationship with their audience, to take back power from the array of tech intermediaries and platforms that... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2016-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The author of a book about the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden is to pay almost $7m (£5m) to the US government for violating non-disclosure agreements, according to the BBC. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Adblock Plus said on Thursday that its community had already found a workaround to the anti-ad-blocking tech that Facebook announced just Tuesday, though Facebook countered that the fix erases more than just ads.This was just an early counter-strike in what is likely to be a drawn-out contest... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2016-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Let publishers take the polite or guilt-trip approach to ad blockers. Facebook is coming down hard, saying it's going to force ad blockers to see ad messages, like it or not. It could be a rallying cry for publishers but will also likely escalate the arms race with tech companies, observers... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Organisations including PEN International have spoken out about the ‘grave impact on democracy’ caused by major crackdown on book tradeThe closure of 29 publishers by the Turkish government has been condemned by the international publishing community, which described the move as outrageous and... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook says its anti-spam filters were to blame for its website briefly blocking access to internal emails from US Democratic Party committee members published by Wikileaks. Continue reading at BBC World
[ BBC World | 2016-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The CW, which has the most impressive TV block of comic book fodder, unleashed back-to-back-to-back-to-back panels late Saturday at Comic-Con for "Supergirl," "Legends of Tomorrow," "The Flash" and "Arrow.” Each bright beacon of genre fare brought with it a bit of information, a couple of clips... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Geographic Kids is the latest publisher to jump onto Facebook Messenger bot platform, where since April there have been built 11,000 other bots from brands and publishers. Tina the T-Rex will be alive for just a week as a brand awareness tool to teach kids about dinosaurs. The publisher... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In its first such report in 15 years, Germany's translators' association asserts 'the weak position of literary translators in negotiations with large publishing houses.' The post German Translators’ Survey of Contracts Cites Low Pay Levels appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For the first part of 2016, it is the mid-sized publishers that are driving the overall market’s excellent 9.3% print sales growth. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW has learned that Republican senators have placed an anonymous hold on Carla Hayden's nomination to serve as the nation’s 14th Librarian of Congress. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, author Kazuo Ishiguro has called for a second referendum to “define the mandate that comes out of last week’s unfocused result”, while arguing that the country “cannot afford to be ruled by anger or self-righteousness”. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The high view of self-publishing, in Jon Fine's words, is peopled with 'increasingly sophisticated' authors supported by 'increasingly sophisticated consultants'—a movement growing into its own alongside 'the curatorial mark' of trade publishing. The post Self-Publishing and the ‘Curatorial... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After two months of challenging ourselves, we're ready for what Rothfuss is selling: classic fantasy that's not so much read as consumed. The post WIRED Book Club: Alright Fine We'll Read The Name of the Wind appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2016-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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