Germany’s largest wholesaler files for bankruptcy
Germany’s largest book wholesaler and distributor, KNV, has filed for bankruptcy, reports Publishers Weekly. On Thursday, 14 February, the managing directors of companies within the KNV Group filed for bankruptcy,...
German book sales down in 2017
In Germany, book trade association Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels has released data showing value sales of books and journals in Germany dropped marginally by 1.6% in 2017. Overall, the German...
Penguin Random House UK to close French and German offices
Penguin Random House (PRH) UK will close two offices covering markets in Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, France and Germany as part of an international restructure of its sales team, reports the Bookseller....
Germany lowers audiobooks VAT to 7%, pushes for lower ebook VAT
The German government has cut its value added tax (VAT) on audiobooks from 19% to 7%, and is campaigning to reduce the VAT on ebooks to the same level, reports the...
Frankfurt Book Fair launches business club ticket
The Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF) has launched a business club ticket with extra services at the fair. The ticket, which is available for either single-day or week-long entry, offers ‘business breakfasts’ for...
Amazon to publish German-language books
Amazon Publishing will launch a new German-language publishing program based in Munich and has already acquired 12 titles for the program, reports Publishers Weekly. Under the direction of publisher Sarah...
International Library News
Former German airport to be transformed into major central libraryIn Germany, the site of a former Berlin airport will be transformed into a major new central library, reports the Guardian....
German bookseller and publisher Weltbild appoints receivers
German media company Verlagsgruppe Weltbild has commenced insolvency proceedings, reports the Bookseller. The company, which has interests in publishing, as well as bookselling as joint-owner of the DBH group, called...
French and German book trades call for government ebook policy
In France and Germany, publishers and booksellers associations are calling for their national governments to implement a policy to protect the ebook trade from big retailers, reports the Bookseller. At...
Comparative study of Australian and German publishers underway
Academics from Australia and Germany are currently working on a comparative study of publishing companies operating in the two countries. The German Australian Publishing Project (GAPP), which is estimated to...
German court rejects sale of secondhand ebooks
A German court has ruled that used ebooks cannot be resold by owners, reports Publishers Weekly. In its decision the German District Court of Bielefeld ruled that ‘unlike physical works,...
Tolino ereader to launch in Germany
In Germany, Deutsche Telekom is launching an ereader called the Tolino Shine in collaboration with booksellers Thalia, Weltbild, Hugendubel and Club Bertelsmann, reports the Bookseller. The Tolino Shine, which supports...
Germany backs out of World Book Night 2013
Germany will not participate in World Book Night 2013, reports the Bookseller. German World Book Night co-organiser Stiftung Lesen said in a statement that ‘more time was needed to sort...
German retailer plans ultra cheap ereader
German ebook retailer Txtr has announced plans to offer an eink ereading device ‘that can be ‘offered as an inexpensive premium through phone plans’, reports Publishers Weekly. ‘The new device,...
Waiting for German award
Waiting for Mummy by Korean author Lee Tae-Jun and illustrator Kim Dong-Seong, published in Australia by Melbourne-based independent publisher Wilkins Farago, is on the shortlist for the picture-book section of Germany's premier prize...