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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Canada's largest bookstore chain says it won't pay ransom to the online group claiming responsibility for the cyberattack that stole at least some personal data of current and former employees of Indigo Books & Music, and which likely caused... Continue reading at CBC
[ CBC | 2023-03-02 02:09:18 UTC ]
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A majority of the 15 employees at the Books-A-Million store in Leesburg, Va., voted not to join the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union during an official election. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-24 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is calling on Congress to pass new legislation to rein in tech companies after Twitter boss Elon Musk ignored an information request. “Elon Musk could respond to my tweets but failed to respond to my letter by yesterday’s deadline and answer basic questions... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-11-28 12:15:18 UTC ]
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Workers at the only ‘big four’ publisher to have a union authorize indefinite strike over low wages and diversityStephanie Guerdan started working in the children’s book department of HarperCollins Publishers six years ago. It was a dream job – just not a dream paycheck. The $33,500-a-year... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-10 18:03:45 UTC ]
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Greenlight welcomes poet and author Emma Bolden for a virtual evening celebrating her new book, The Tiger and the Cage. This exquisitely wrought debut memoir recounts Bolden’s lifelong struggle with chronic pain and endometriosis, while speaking more broadly to anyone who has been told “it’s all... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-10 09:52:30 UTC ]
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The uncertainty comes at a time when publishing is facing slumping sales after a pandemic boom, and fears of recession. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-11-01 22:14:42 UTC ]
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A Federal Court has blocked Penguin Random House's acquisition of one of its main rivals, Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-11-01 16:06:02 UTC ]
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In the United States, Judge Pan rules against the merger of trade book publishers Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. The post Court Blocks PRH-Simon & Schuster Acquisition appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-01 02:36:58 UTC ]
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The government’s case blocked the merger of two of the United States’ largest publishers and reflected a more aggressive approach to curbing consolidation. It was closely watched by the publishing industry. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-11-01 01:28:52 UTC ]
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Biden administration receives a clear victory, with the judge ruling the blockbuster merger would diminish competition in book publishing. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-11-01 00:51:06 UTC ]
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Justice department argued the melding of the publishing house with Simon & Schuster would harm competition and authors’ payA US judge has blocked the $2.2bn planned merger of Penguin Random House, the world’s largest book publisher, with rival Simon & Schuster.Judge Florence Pan of the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-01 00:30:18 UTC ]
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In a brief two-page order issued late on October 31, Judge Florence Y. Pan blocked PRH's bid to buy S&S, saying the government had succeeded in showing that the proposed merger would harm "competition in the market for the U.S. publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Book piracy in France has taken a hit, with court action led by the SNE and 12 publishing companies against 'Z-Library.' The post French Publishers Cheer a Court’s Order to Block a Book Piracy Site appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-19 20:26:31 UTC ]
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Getting an e-reader can do wonders for bookworms struggling with library management. (Physical space is a finite and precious resource, as we all found out during the pandemic.) You don’t even have to spend that much either, as today’s entry-level options pack a slew of features. Case in... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2022-09-13 15:01:41 UTC ]
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DOJ attorneys say the proposed acquisition is “precisely the march toward concentration and monopsony power that Congress enacted the Clayton Act to prevent.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In a highly anticipated post-trial filing PRH attorneys reiterate their claim that the government manufactured a fatally flawed case to block the nearly $2.2 billion merger—and then failed to prove it. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Staff from newspaper that rails against ‘militant trade unions’ will join sister outlets in striking on FridayThe Daily Express has repeatedly warned its readers that “militant trade unions” are bringing Britain to its knees – but this week many of the newspaper’s own staff will go on strike in... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-08-21 16:41:06 UTC ]
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After the government and PRH reiterated their positions in opening arguments, HBG CEO Michael Pietsch testified to a number of concerns he has if the PRH-S&S merger is approved and said he hoped his parent company would bid on S&S if the deal is blocked. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The government’s bid to block Penguin Random House’s acquisition of rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster gets underway today, with opening arguments before judge Florence Pan in Washington, D.C. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook's parent company Meta is telling its U.S. publishing partners that the company will no longer pay for news content that aggregates on Facebook's news tab. Facebook's News Tab and Bulletin newsletters will be put on the back burner as Meta moves forward with investing in AI-based video... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2022-07-29 17:11:09 UTC ]
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