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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Showdown: DOJ’s Bid to Block PRH Acquisition of S&S Is Heading to Trial

With oral arguments set to begin on August 1, the closely watched case holds major implications for a publishing industry grappling with consolidation and for government regulators facing growing calls for more vigilant antitrust enforcement. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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That’s yacht fair: Oz lambasts Nine over lavish shindig but fails to mention News Corp role | The Weekly Beast

‘Nine parties it up,’ accuses the Australian, while ignoring corporate hospitality of News Corp execs. Plus: the Tele’s riveting true crime TikToks“Nine parties it up” was the headline on a hit piece in the Australian about rival media company Nine Entertainment. The broadcasting and publishing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-03 02:00:54 UTC ]
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A Group of Louisiana Libraries Block Cultural Displays

A group of Louisiana libraries block cultural displays, including Pride, Black and Woman's History Month, and others. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-02 22:08:33 UTC ]
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Adapting to Changes in Pay-per-Click Advertising

In this panel—scheduled for May 24, 3–4 p.m. ET, and moderated by Carlyn Robertson, marketing lead at BookBub—book marketing experts will discuss what’s changed in the world of digital advertising in the past year. Topics of discussion include how marketers can adapt as major ad platforms and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Google's new tool will let EU publishers get paid for longer news snippets in search

Google has inked agreements with over 300 news publications in Germany, Hungary, France, Austria, the Netherlands and Ireland that would allow it to publish snippets of their stories on Search. The tech giant has announced the development in a blog post, where it has also launched new tool that... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-05-11 10:25:45 UTC ]
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Anna Badkhen on Failed Migrations Amid Climate Crisis and Colonial Greed

Emergence Magazine is an online publication with annual print edition exploring the threads connecting ecology, culture, and spirituality. As we experience the desecration of our lands and waters, the extinguishing of species, and a loss of sacred connection to the Earth, we look to emerging... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-03-28 08:49:57 UTC ]
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Court Blocks Maryland’s Library E-book Law

In ruling for the AAP, judge Deborah L. Boardman held that "striking the balance between the critical functions of libraries and the importance of preserving the exclusive rights of copyright holders" is "squarely in the province of Congress and not this Court or a state legislature." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-02-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Valve Steam Deck wows reviewers: ‘The most innovative gaming PC in 20 years’

The Steam Deck, Valve’s take on a Switch-style portable PC gaming machine, is perhaps the most anticipated piece of portable hardware since…well, since the Nintendo Switch. So it’s understandable that the technology press is champing at the bit to devour every detail about it, even well before... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-02-09 18:09:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #haptic feedback #console gamers #expect vibration #enhance immersion #poo stain #white sheet #weeks left #syncing progress #today epic #linux version #incomplete glimpses #huge library #starting price #february 25th #big promises #libraries


Valve’s Steam Deck wows reviewers: ‘The most innovative gaming PC in 20 years’

The Steam Deck, Valve’s take on a Switch-style portable PC gaming machine, is perhaps the most anticipated piece of portable hardware since…well, since the Nintendo Switch. So it’s understandable that the technology press is champing at the bit to devour every detail about it, even well before... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-02-08 14:47:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #haptic feedback #console gamers #expect vibration #enhance immersion #poo stain #white sheet #weeks left #syncing progress #today epic #linux version #incomplete glimpses #huge library #starting price #february 25th #big promises #libraries


Country Life publisher reeling after shareholder revolt over executive pay

Future’s shares tumble as investors vote down scheme in which CEO could be awarded £40mFuture, the UK’s biggest magazine publisher that is home to titles from Country Life to Metal Hammer, has been forced into an embarrassing sit-down with investors after a bruising shareholder revolt in which... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-02-03 16:27:30 UTC ]
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HarperCollins releases its first ethnicity pay gap report

HarperCollins has released its first ethnicity pay gap report alongside its annual one for gender pay, announcing it will now use diverse, balanced shortlists for senior roles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-25 13:17:00 UTC ]
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Rider pays tribute to 'Father of Mindfulness' Thich Nhat Hanh

Rider has paid tribute to spiritual leader, bestselling author and pioneer of the mindfulness movement Thich Nhat Hanh, who has died aged 95.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-24 11:23:19 UTC ]
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Galley Beggar pays tribute to author Uschi Gatward

Independent publisher Galley Beggar has paid tribute to author Uschi Gatward, who has died following a battle with cancer.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-05 01:03:10 UTC ]
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With failed experiments and bizarre successes, evolution marches on

The history of life is a tale of constant change, science writer Henry Gee explains. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-12-10 13:00:00 UTC ]
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AAP Sues to Block Maryland, New York Library E-book Laws

The AAP filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to stop Maryland's library e-book law for taking effect January 1 and also disclosed that it was one of more than 20 organizations to sign a letter to New York governor Kathy Hochul urging her to veto a similar bill. Both pieces of legislation require... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-12-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Former Trump Defense Secretary Sues Pentagon for Blocking Portions of his Memoir

In the suit, filed on November 28, attorneys for Esper say that “significant text” is being “improperly withheld from publication…under the guise of classification.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-29 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Julia Fine: Ghosts of Rebel Children’s Book Authors

The author of The Upstairs House on postpartum depression, hauntings, and the legacy of Margaret Wise Brown. Continue reading at Guernica

[ Guernica | 2021-11-18 03:45:32 UTC ]
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My Workplace Joined the Fine-Free Library Movement (And Here’s What I Learned)

The realities -- the good, the challenging, and the great -- of going fine-free in libraries from a public librarian. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-15 11:30:00 UTC ]
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The disability pay gap

Last month, Penguin Random House released their disability pay gap report along with statistics for sexual orientation and socio-economic background. Whilst the publication of the report was positive, with PRH being the first publishing house to include disability in their reporting, the pay gap... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-06 09:01:13 UTC ]
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Justice Department Sues to Block Penguin Random House Acquisition of Simon & Schuster

The Department of Justice sues to block the acquisition of Simon and Schuster from Penguin Random House. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-02 16:56:25 UTC ]
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