Lang Law

Background

Until 1979 fixed prices of the books on the French market were maintained as a result of voluntary agreement between publishers and booksellers. In 1979 decrees forbidding such practices were issued by René Monory, French Minister of the Economy at the time.

Repealing of Monory's reforms of the book market, in order to protect small, traditional booksellers from competition of big stores and chain retailers (such as Fnac), was part of François Mitterrand's electoral program during presidential campaign in 1981. After Mitterrand won the election he appointed Jack Lang as the new Minister of Culture and tasked him with creating a law proposal for a law establishing mandatory fixed book price. In August 1981, the French parliament voted unanimously in favor of the law proposed by Lang.

Contents of the law

The Lang Law works as follows:

• The publisher decides on a price for its book and is obliged to print it on the back
• Retailers (professional booksellers and other, nonspecialized sellers), are not allowed to sell a book for a discount more than 5% below the price set by the publisher.
• The law only applies to new books. The price of used books can be set freely.

Discounts of more than 5% can occasionally be applied under certain strict conditions: books must have been on the market for more than 2 years, and last restocked more than 6 months ago.

The law was extended to cover e-books in May 2011. Due to this law it is illegal to provide e-books of French publishers as a part of subscription service for a flat, periodical rate.

Bibliography

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References

References

1. (1988). "Le Prix unique du livre au regard du droit européen". Bulletin des Bibliothèques de France.
2. (2006). "Le Prix du livre, 1981-2006 - La loi Lang". IMEC.
3. (14 January 2008). "Amazon.com is challenging French competition law".
4. "Le prix du livre, mode d'emploi". Ministère de la Culture.
5. "DIRECTION DU LIVRE: PRIX DU LIVRE, MODE D'EMPLOI. Article 5.".
6. (19 May 2011). "La France adopte le prix unique pour l'e-book malgré la menace de Bruxelles".
7. (19 February 2015). "Bad News for Kindle Unlimited in France?".