Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
In what way do you think it differs from the position in the UK? I would not have said, personally, that the UK had any less open a publishing market, or less of a culture of reading than the US.
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Book price fixing is apparently (somewhat) more acceptable in the UK and definitely so on the continent.
Looking at the settlements over the conspiracy, the Gang of 6 got off without even a fine over there. They simply promised not to do it anymore and all is suddenly just fine. No restitution to consumers, no punishment. And no monitoring of BPH contracts or accounting.
That portends a less competitive environment moving forward.
Based on that alone I would expect the mergers to sail through uncontested.