In the Netherlands, some authors have decided to leave Dutch publisher VBK in protest of parent company KKR, NL Times reports. KKR has owned Simon & Schuster since 2023 and S&S purchased VBK last year. KKR invests in German publisher Axel Springer, which owns the Israeli classified site Yad2, which hosts real estate listings in occupied Palestinian territory. Protestors have also accused KKR of involvement with other Israeli businesses and defense companies that supply Israel. Author Dirk Wanrooij and other VBK authors are asking the publisher to speak out against the private equity company. “The publisher is hiding behind: ‘we have […]
International News
UK Maintains Copyright Exhaustion Laws, Rejects Tech Transparency Amendment
The UK won’t change its post-Brexit IP rights exhaustion laws, after a lengthy consultation with stakeholders. According to the current and future regime, which is preferred by authors and publishers, copyrighted goods such as books that are sold in the UK or European Economic Area can be re-sold in the territories. The move avoids cheaper-priced books from outside of the EEA coming into the UK and undercutting the market. “This is an important step in maintaining the strength of our world-leading intellectual property framework,” Minister for AI and Digital Government Feryal Clark said.” The decision we’ve taken not only gives […]
More on Tariffs
On Wednesday Donald Trump announced a 90 day pause on most of the administration’s new tariffs, along with an increase in the tariffs on goods from China. (China’s retaliatory counter tariffs are 84 percent.) Correcting the information yesterday sourced from the ABA post’s, Canada has not yet levied any tariffs on books imported from the US, after soliciting comment and hearing appeals from the book industry. Books had been listed as a possible category for tariffs on a Canadian notice of intent to impose counter-tariffs.
More on Tariffs for Book Production Materials and US Exports
The American Booksellers Association published an explainer on how the new tariffs will affect the book world. As previously reported, standard printed books imported into the US are exempt from the new tariffs. However, the cost of producing books—and thus, book prices—could go up, if publishers use ink, pulp, or paper imported from other countries, such as China or the EU. Paper from Canada (and Mexico) that is “wholly grown, produced, or manufactured” within the country is exempt, since it’s subject to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Retaliatory tariffs from other countries will affect books exported by US publishers, however. […]
Amazon Calls France’s 3 Euro Book Delivery Fee Discriminatory
In its continued fight against France’s mandated minimum €3 fee to ship books priced under €35, Amazon criticized the measure in an argument before the Court of Justice of the European Union, Reuters reports. (France’s highest administrative court has sought guidance from the CJEU, which is Europe’s highest court.) The fee was instituted in 2023 to help France’s independent bookstores, which aren’t able to offer free or extremely reduced shipping the way that Amazon and other large online retailers can. “The major retailers are using their delivery methods as a way of creating a new type of competition on the […]
Imprints: Red Tower Pairs with PRH UK
Independent publisher Entangled will expand their Red Tower imprint to the UK, in a partnership with PRH UK’s Penguin Michael Joseph division. The line launches this summer, with SHIELD OF SPARROWS by Devney Perry, and plans to grow to 12 titles a year. Entangled publisher Liz Pelletier says in the announcement: “At Entangled Publishing, our mission has always been to bring extraordinary stories to readers everywhere. This partnership with Penguin Michael Joseph marks an exciting new chapter for us, expanding the reach of Red Tower Books across the globe. “With Penguin Random House’s exceptional passion for books and distribution networks, […]