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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Staff at independent publishers have seen increases in pay and benefits over the last three years... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book publishing is a business of high stakes gambles—and trade book publishers continue to make the right bets.Helped by blockbuster titles Fifty Shades of Grey and The Hunger Games, the industry posted net revenue of $7.1 billion in 2012, up 6.2% from the prior year, according to the... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2013-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bertelsmann and Pearson are to win unconditional EU regulatory approval for the Random House/... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A start-up is hoping to create a new digital publishing platform for independent authors that... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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By minimizing the risk of buying a bad book, pay-as-you-read business models could translate into higher prices and higher quality content, but will it drive more sales? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The download first, pay-as-you-read ebook sales model from Total Boox in Israel promises a superior consumer experience by minimizing the uncertainty of book buying. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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City of York Council has been given £100,000 by the cabinet office to help it form a mutual... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Profile has announced a new book from Michael Haag exploring the background of Dan Brown’s... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Internet service provider Free restored the ads after meetings with French online publishing and advertising groups, which had complained about a loss of revenue. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2013-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple plans to have 80,000 titles for sale on its iBookstore in Japan within a month,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For long-time ebook buyers indoctrinated in Amazon's convenient ecosystem, trying to make the switch to a competitor can lead to frustration and disappointment. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Europeans have been trying for years to force Google to prop up the continent’s’ struggling news publishers. A new deal in Belgium suggests they have finally succeeded. In a blog post on Wednesday, Google said it has resolved a ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The European Union has accepted an offer from Apple and four major publishers to reduce pricing restrictions on content offered at Amazon and other book-sellers. After being caught out by the EU, we heard that the offer was likely to be adopted last month, and the commission has now confirmed... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former colleagues have paid tribute to Dorling Kindersley stalwart Christopher Davis, who has... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Canada has started testing a digital and print geo-targeted marketing campaign that will reach consumers in cities and small towns across Canada with messages specific to their location. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Newspaper publishers struggle to successfully monetize their online content, and they are not getting any help from journalism schools, despite the fact that these are the very institutions preparing young people to enter the shrinking field and the ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Booksellers across the UK have put up signs in their windows reading 'We pay our taxes' in response to a hearing by the Public Accounts Committee on Amazon's business practices. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Booksellers across the country are displaying “We Pay Our Taxes” posters in their... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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According to Reuters, EU regulators look likely to accept an offer from Apple and a handful of publishers, including Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Livre and Macmillan. The assembled publishers propose that they will allow retailers (including Amazon) to sell ebooks cheaper than... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU regulators will next month accept an offer by Apple and four publishers to end the antitrust... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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