Facebook announced their intention to purchase WhatsApp in February of this year for a cool $19 billion (or $21.8 billion at Facebook's current share price); a deal that received approval in the United States a few months later in April. Unfortunately for the social media giant, the acquisition wasn't all smooth sailing --the European Union (EU) opposed the deal, stating that … [Read more...] about Facebook $19B Acquisition of WhatsApp Approved by the EU
EU
EU Court Rules Libraries can Make eBooks without Publisher Permission
The highest court in Europe has ruled that libraries can digitize books without publishers permission and distribute them to dedicated reading terminals. The decision rests on exceptions built into the EU Copyright Directive for reproducing and communicating intellectual property. Specifically it says that publicly accessible libraries may make works available at "dedicated … [Read more...] about EU Court Rules Libraries can Make eBooks without Publisher Permission
UK Rules eBooks Aren’t Books as Far as Taxation Is Concerned
There's no relief in sight for UK readers, as Parliament declared that there was no good reason or means to reduce the outrageous 20% VAT on ebooks. While their print counterparts enjoy a zero-percent tax--like many state and local governments in the US who feel that book purchasing should be supported--ebooks are still treated in much the same way as a software download and … [Read more...] about UK Rules eBooks Aren’t Books as Far as Taxation Is Concerned
All’s Not Well at Amazon Germany
Just in time for the holidays, workers at several Amazon retail distribution centers situated throughout Germany have staged a series of one-day strikes in an effort to force the retail giant's hand in terms of labor disputes involving pay rates and working conditions within the factory-like centers. According to the German-based ver.di union, as many as 1,900 Amazon … [Read more...] about All’s Not Well at Amazon Germany
Samsung, Philips Raided in EU on Suspicions of Indulging Unfair in Trade Practices
Some front line companies such as Samsung and Philips along with the biggest electronics retailer in Europe, Media Saturn, had to deal with unannounced guests from the European Commission. Neither of the companies divulged any details of the raid, though they did confirm their premises were subjected to scrutiny on suspicions of an unfair collusion to limit the sale of devices … [Read more...] about Samsung, Philips Raided in EU on Suspicions of Indulging Unfair in Trade Practices
EU to Take Stronger Stance on VAT over eBooks
The VAT, or value added tax, on ebooks has been a thorn in the side of digital publishing for some time. Going back to the early stages of the recent years' e-reader explosion when Germany was the first country whose digital publishers took issue with the way ebooks are taxed, to the current state of countries outright ignoring the mandated taxation rate in order to lure … [Read more...] about EU to Take Stronger Stance on VAT over eBooks
EU Receives a Settlement Offer from Apple and Top Publishers
Earlier this year, the Justice Department in the USA launched an investigation against Apple and the big six publishers. The authorities were looking into the entire Agency model, where the publishers collectively determined the price on the digital content. Most of the publishers settled out of court, while Apple, Macmillian, and Penguin continue to fight. The European Union … [Read more...] about EU Receives a Settlement Offer from Apple and Top Publishers
eBook Price Fixing Settlement in EU
While the US courts hear arguments about alleged price fixing and anti-trust issues between Apple and five of the Big Six publishers’ effort to reduce Amazon’s hold on the ebook industry, a similar investigation has been going on in the EU over the same accusations. Just as three of the publishers—Simon and Schuster, Hachette Group, and HarperCollins—settled in the US, Apple … [Read more...] about eBook Price Fixing Settlement in EU
European Union officials raid eBook Publishers
Anti-Trust authorities based out of the EU have raided several major publishers on the premise of price fixing and artificially inflating the prices. Accusations abound that several publishing companies are getting together under the cartel model to agree on industry standard price fixing. The European Commission admitted to the Associated Press that it had "reason to … [Read more...] about European Union officials raid eBook Publishers