Loi Lang
Loi Lang ( French: Lex Lang, Lang law ) is the usual name for the French regulation of fixed book prices . Officially, the law is cited as Law No. 81-766 of August 10, 1981. It is named after the then French Minister of Culture and Education Jack Lang .
The law obliges the book trade to sell books during the binding period of two years after publication at the price set by the publisher , with a maximum discount of 5% possible. Educational institutions and some other closely defined customers may be granted a discount of up to 9%.
In response to the success of online booksellers, especially Amazon , a ban was introduced in October 2013 to offer the discount and free shipping at the same time. Any waiver of shipping costs will in future be offset against the permitted discount. In July 2014, free shipping was banned entirely and discounts are only allowed in stationary bookshops. Amazon responded by announcing that it will in future charge shipping costs of € 0.01 in France.
Web links
- Wording of the law (as of October 3, 2013) (French)
- Laurant Martin, “Oui, le livre a un prix” , L'Histoire, December 28, 2006
Individual evidence
- ↑ heise.de: France wants to protect bookshops from online offers , October 3, 2013
- ^ Wording of the change from October 4, 2013
- ^ Wording of the amendment dated July 9, 2014
- ↑ heise.de: “Anti-Amazon” law: France prohibits free book deliveries , July 11, 2014