Book price fixing for eBooks: you should note that
In Germany, book price fixing applies to both eBooks and print books. Unlike books, book price fixing has not yet been legally established for eBooks, but a draft has been drawn up. The Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels can nevertheless warn violations and does so in practice. In this practical tip, we show you what you should consider when fixing the book price for eBooks.
You should keep this in mind when fixing the eBook book price
Put simply, book price maintenance means that a book or eBook is sold at a certain price - regardless of which retailer you buy it from. If you offer a book or eBook yourself, there are a number of things you need to consider.
- You may not offer your eBook to different retailers at different prices. Your eBook must always have the same price - no matter where the customer purchases your eBook. Conversely, this does not mean that you have to supply every dealer. You are free to do so.
- Contests that are directly linked to the eBook are prohibited according to the fixed book price. That means, for example, that you shouldn't advertise that everyone who buys your eBook has a chance of winning. On the other hand, if you give away something for all readers without imposing any conditions, this is allowed.
- You may not distribute vouchers that you only give out for eBook purchases. However, if you give away your eBook as an unconditional gift, that is allowed.
- According to fixed book prices, you shouldn't make your eBook more attractive, for example by putting a small fan package on top of it with every sale. The only exception: These are small encores, for example a postcard with the book cover.
- It is also important that you determine your price freely and do not let the customer decide how much he would like to pay for it. You are also not allowed to give discounts to certain groups of people, for example pupils and students.
What does book price fixing allow for eBooks and books?
In principle, the fixed book price only applies to commercial sales. If you sell a few books as a private person, you usually do not have to comply with them. As a publisher or self-publisher, however, this can cost you several thousand euros in the event of a violation, for example if you circumvent the book price fixing via foreign service providers. However, not everything is prohibited with fixed book prices for eBooks.
- You can change the price as you wish, as long as you also adjust the price at all retailers.
- If you sell your eBook in another country, you can also set a different price there.
- Books and eBooks may be offered in libraries and flat rate models despite fixed book prices.
- If you offer your eBook at the so-called subscription price (maximum 25 percent discount) before selling it, that is permitted.
In another practical tip, we present the result of Stiftung Warentest on the best eBook readers in 2015.