Yes, I can see that they want to protect all the mom & pop booksellers. BUT....
Too bad that they didn't have these laws a hundred years ago.
Just think -
If you bought a car, you would have to pay the village blacksmith for horseshoes and a buggy whip.
If you bought a computer, you would have to pay for a slide rule.
If you bought a TV, you would have to pay for lime lights and greasepaint.
Must doctors buy blood letting equipment when they set up a practice?
I see that there are
Project Gutenberg French language books available. Not that that will help current French authors.