Trade bodies' e-book lobbying turns towards UK

Two leading trade bodies in the book industry are turning towards lobbying the UK competition authorities over Amazon as opposed to the European Commission (EC) following Brexit.

The Booksellers Association (BA) and the Publishers Association (PA) have both told The Bookseller they will be seeking conversations about Amazon’s domination of the e-book market “away from Brussels”, following the UK vote to leave the European Union two weeks ago.

An antitrust investigation into the way Amazon distributes e-books and its relationship with publishers was launched by the EC in June 2015. The EC is investigating the Most Favoured Nation clauses in Amazon contracts with publishers in particular, which "require publishers to inform Amazon about more favourable or alternative terms offered to Amazon's competitors”.

The investigation came about after lobbying from the UK’s BA and the German Booksellers Association.

However, despite the EC continuing its case in Europe, both the BA and PA are now seeking to tackle the issue of through the UK authorities directly.

Rosamund de la Hey, president of the BA, said: “We have received an assurance from the competition authorities in Brussels that Brexit will make no difference to how our complaint is treated. However, in light of the Brexit vote we are also exploring how we might be able to progress our case nationally, away from Brussels.”

Meanwhile Stephen Lotinga, c.e.o of the Publishers Association, said Brexit would not change the fact that the routes to market for e-books were “too narrow and too few”, with the online market for print books also dominated by the retailer.

“Regardless of what shape our future relationship with the European Union takes, the need to have a healthy, thriving and competitive market in the UK for e-books remains,” he said. “Brexit doesn’t change the fact that the route to market for e-books are too narrow and too few.  The online market for print books faces similar problems which creates the potential for an adverse effect on competition. The EU’s inquiry is continuing but we will also be considering whether further conversations are now needed with the competition authorities in the UK.”

At the time the EC investigation was launched, an Amazon spokesperson said: “Amazon is confident that our agreements with publishers are legal and in the best interests of readers.  We look forward to demonstrating this to the commission as we cooperate fully during this process.”