Books

Federal government expands book prices on E-Books from

No difference between electronic and printed books: For both in future there will be a book prices. The publishers should be binding to specify what the E-Books on the Internet cost.

“Today is a good day for the book culture in Germany”, said state Minister for culture Monika Grütters. On Wednesday, 03.02.2016), the Federal Cabinet adopted the draft of a Second law to Change the fact decided. Therefore, it is no more in the future between E-Book and printed book differences. Publishers will be obliged to the price of electronic books in a binding manner. The resale price maintenance applies therefore not only in the case of books and E-Books, but also for cross-border sales to Letztabnehmer within Germany. It doesn’t matter what the nationality or place of establishment of the respective dealer.

An important decision for the German book trade

To the fact come in Germany play a crucial role, because the mixed cost estimate is between bestsellers and fiction diversity enables, said Minister of state Grütters, the expansion of the law. The enforcement of such a regulation for the protection of German cultural property was one of the Central political demands in the coalition agreement of the Kulturressorts have been.

State Minister For Culture Monika Grütters

Books are valid in Germany as part of the culture – so in any case, it wants the law. In the Land of Poets and thinkers, and especially of the great writers, as well as in the home of the Buchdruckentdeckers Johannes Gutenberg should be secured that a broad Buchangebot. Therefore, there is since 2002, the “Buchpreisbindungsgesetz”, which defines that the publishing new books with a binding retail price pretending.

Meanwhile, however, shows a clear Trend that shows that many Germans would prefer to E-Book as the printed copy grab. For this case, had the law so far, no regulation has been provided.

ekl,ski/so (kna, epd)