With Brexit looming larger as the UK’s new government takes charge, the publishing industry steps up its drive to drop the VAT on ebooks and digital content
European Publishing Welcomes ECOFIN’s Decision on Taxation for Ebooks
A new decision allows EU member states to align VAT rates on print books and ebooks if they choose to, instead of a 15% minimum for electronic services.
Industry Notes: Europeana’s Migration Collection; Man Booker’s Nonfiction Fiction Chair
Europeana’s contribution to the European Year of Culture is a collection on migration. And the Fiction Man Booker names Kwame Anthony Appiah as chair.
European Publishers Slam ‘Unwarranted Delay’ in VAT Reform for Book Formats
Citing the EC’s year-old proposal to allow member-states to tax print and digital book formats equally, the Federation of European Publishers demands action
Industry Notes: EC Chooses Spain’s Odilo; Quarto Breaks Off Talks
Talking of ‘innovative and affordable solutions to assist schools and universities,’ Odilo announces a deal with the European Commission.
European Commission Makes Amazon Antitrust Commitments Official
The European Commission calls Amazon’s antitrust commitments ‘a timely, effective and comprehensive solution to the competition concerns’ raised.
In Germany, Copyright Repayments Loom: Hardship Fund Formed for Publishers
Amid concern for the impact on publishers, Germany’s collective management organizations must recoup copyright revenues distributed between 2012 and 2015.
German Publishers Association Cheers EC Commitments from Amazon: ‘Another Victory for Publishers’
Perhaps nowhere is there such a jubilant response to the European Commission’s pressure on Amazon than in Germany. The Börsenverein hails the week’s events.
No Agreement Yet: Germany’s Publishing Copyright Controversy
A proposal for redistributing copyright revenues to authors in Germany has been left in limbo, even as the European Commission proposes its own update to the EU’s copyright framework.
European Research Libraries Say ‘Neighboring Rights’ Oppose Open Science
Declaring that ‘the current copyright framework is unfit for the digital age,’ the chief of the Europe’s research libraries organization speaks out against “neighboring rights,’ related rights, for publishers.