They've been discussing it for a while, and I've mentioned it several times at the Litrary Saloon, but Israel has now finally passed a 'Book Law' (the Law for the Protection of Literature and Authors in Israel (Temporary Provision), 5773-2013), aimed at preventing (ostensibly) anti-competitive discounting and guaranteeing a certain level of author-royalties (for the first eighteen months after a book's publication -- now considered a 'Protection Period' -- in both cases), Lexology has a summary of the law.
Seen as necessary in a literary marketplace dominated by two retailers the early reactions haven't been very enthusiastic or optimistic.
In Haaretz Adi Dovrat-Meseritz found Israel's new Book Law bans discounts (except it doesn't), and already finds complaints such as:
And now in the Times of Israel Michael Jaffe ridicules the idea that this law is Protecting "The People's" literature ? offering also a fascinating graphic, considering:
Jaffe makes an interesting point in noting that:
I'm surprised there hasn't been more foreign notice of this yet, and look forward to further analysis and commentary.
Seen as necessary in a literary marketplace dominated by two retailers the early reactions haven't been very enthusiastic or optimistic.
In Haaretz Adi Dovrat-Meseritz found Israel's new Book Law bans discounts (except it doesn't), and already finds complaints such as:
The money intended for writers and for literature was stolen by the chains. The consumer will pay more, the writer will sell fewer copies, publishers will receive less in commissions, and fewer books will be sold. There is just one beneficiary: the Steimatzky - Tzomet Sfarim oligopoly.An editorial in The Jerusalem Post argued: 'Sometimes legislation is born out of the best of intentions, but legislative good intentions can often leave no winners', in Throwing the book, arguing: "Odds are that this new law will leave the monopolies laughing on the way to the bank".
And now in the Times of Israel Michael Jaffe ridicules the idea that this law is Protecting "The People's" literature ? offering also a fascinating graphic, considering:
What of other countries which have legislated book price-setting laws ? A comparison of 14 European Union countries reveals that those with price-setting laws release significantly fewer book titles per 1000 citizens than do countries with either completely unregulated literary markets or those with non-legislated sector-wide agreements. Finland abolished its book law in 1971 and Great Britain did so in 1996. In both cases, the result was substantial growth in both countries' bookselling sectors. Both history and common sense indicate that this law will make books more expensive in Israel and damage the literary market. Fewer new titles will be published, fewer books will be sold, and fewer new authors will be published.Also an interesting observation: "The law passed with 45 ayes, 3 nays, and 72 abstentions". (What the hell ?)
Jaffe makes an interesting point in noting that:
Why does the government of Israel, which ranks among the top 5 countries in the world for titles published per capita, need to "fix" a literary situation that is ... pretty good as it is ?I'd suggest that while it may currently be very good indeed, the market-situation (or rather: configuration) suggested future problems which it's best to deal with now; of course, whether or not this was/is the best approach is a different question.
I'm surprised there hasn't been more foreign notice of this yet, and look forward to further analysis and commentary.