GOVERNMENT PUTS AUSTRALIA OUT OF STEP WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS: INSPIRES TOP BOOK RETAILER ORGANISATION TO TAKE A STRONG STAND
Announcement posted by Australian Publishers Association 01 Jun 2016
Australian Booksellers Association joins industry organisations to condemn plans to remove international standards that risk the Australian book industry.
Australia’s top national book retailer organisation, the Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) has united with national organisations that represent the people who write, manufacture, publish and read Australian books in a public awareness campaign.
The Books Create Australia campaign (#bookscreate) condemns the Government’s radical plan to abolish international standards of the book publishing industry that threaten the future of Australian books.
The government’s plan puts over 20,000 local jobs in printing, writing, book publishing and retail at risk by removing parallel importation rules and territorial copyright based on out-of-date price data referenced in the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report on Intellectual Property Arrangements.
‘These changes would not be good for Australian readers or retailers. Australian readers treasure Australian writing, and there would be less of it. The idea that there would be consumer benefits from removing territorial copyright is based on out-dated data and biased analysis,’ said Michael Gordon-Smith, CEO, APA.
‘The Americans and the Brits aren’t stupid,’ said bestselling author Tim Winton who joined many leading authors who spoke against government’s plan to remove territorial copyright in Australia at the Australian Book Industry Awards on May 19. ‘They’ll keep theirs because to give that up is to set fire to your own house … It’ll be only us doing that. We’ll be the ones putting ourselves at a self-destructive disadvantage. To no logical purpose whatsoever.’
Joel Becker, CEO of ABA today said, ‘The ABA is working collaboratively with the Australian Publishers Association (APA) to explore new options for further improving competitive pricing and the availability of stock for Australian consumers.’
‘Both organisations are absolutely committed to the importance of Australian territorial copyright - in providing value, range and quality to Australian readers, and to the crucial long-term value of the industry and our customers.’
‘The ABA will join the #bookscreate as an active partner,’ said Joel Becker, CEO of ABA at the top national booksellers’ conference held in Canberra on May 30. This is the first time that organisations that include the ABA, APA, Australian Society of Authors, Australian Literary Agents Association and the Print Industry Association of Australia are uniting in a public awareness campaign.
The $2b Australian book industry has a strong track record in delivering innovative codes of practice that have seen Australian readers get the best book retail experience possible – timely access to a diverse array of books that are well priced.
‘This industry collaboration is unprecedented. It shows the strength of support for Australian writers and their writing, and it offers a chance to continue improving performance without putting that at risk,’ said Michael Gordon-Smith.
AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY CODES OF PRACTICE: HIGHLIGHTS
+ 14/14: At present, Australian publishers, under an agreed code of conduct with booksellers, have two short weeks to release an overseas title after it is released in the USA or UK. If they don't meet that date booksellers are free to parallel import that title. By law they only have 30 days. Consumers can freely import copies for themselves at any time. However, increasingly major international titles are released simultaneously.
+ Booksellers can buy locally on a sale or return basis. This means they can return books to the publisher that do not sell.
+ Booksellers don’t have exposure to exchange rate changes when buying from local publishers.
ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER ASSOCIATION
booksellers.org.au
The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) promotes the interests of booksellers in Australia. In 1985 the Association was incorporated in Victoria and now acts as the national body representing Australian booksellers. Members range from independent bookshops to chain and franchise shops, as well as specialist, second hand, academic and educational booksellers.
ABOUT THE BOOKS CREATE AUSTRALIA CAMPAIGN
bookscreateaustralia.com.au
The Books Create Australia campaign has gained extraordinary momentum since launching at the Australian Book Industry Awards on Thursday, 19 May. Over 11,000 Australians have signed the petition to condemn the governments plan to abolish territorial copyright, PIRs and move towards a US-style Fair Use.
Keep up with the latest news on the Australian book publishing industry’s advocacy campaign:
BOOKS CREATE AUSTRALIA
bookscreateaustralia.com.au
#BooksCreate
Twitter @bookscreateaus
Facebook Books Create Australia
Instagram @bookscreateaus
For more information and/or interviews, please contact:
Emma Rusher, House of Rusher
T 0423 213 626 / (07) 3036 2024 | E emma@houseofrusher.com
The Books Create Australia campaign (#bookscreate) condemns the Government’s radical plan to abolish international standards of the book publishing industry that threaten the future of Australian books.
The government’s plan puts over 20,000 local jobs in printing, writing, book publishing and retail at risk by removing parallel importation rules and territorial copyright based on out-of-date price data referenced in the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report on Intellectual Property Arrangements.
‘These changes would not be good for Australian readers or retailers. Australian readers treasure Australian writing, and there would be less of it. The idea that there would be consumer benefits from removing territorial copyright is based on out-dated data and biased analysis,’ said Michael Gordon-Smith, CEO, APA.
‘The Americans and the Brits aren’t stupid,’ said bestselling author Tim Winton who joined many leading authors who spoke against government’s plan to remove territorial copyright in Australia at the Australian Book Industry Awards on May 19. ‘They’ll keep theirs because to give that up is to set fire to your own house … It’ll be only us doing that. We’ll be the ones putting ourselves at a self-destructive disadvantage. To no logical purpose whatsoever.’
Joel Becker, CEO of ABA today said, ‘The ABA is working collaboratively with the Australian Publishers Association (APA) to explore new options for further improving competitive pricing and the availability of stock for Australian consumers.’
‘Both organisations are absolutely committed to the importance of Australian territorial copyright - in providing value, range and quality to Australian readers, and to the crucial long-term value of the industry and our customers.’
‘The ABA will join the #bookscreate as an active partner,’ said Joel Becker, CEO of ABA at the top national booksellers’ conference held in Canberra on May 30. This is the first time that organisations that include the ABA, APA, Australian Society of Authors, Australian Literary Agents Association and the Print Industry Association of Australia are uniting in a public awareness campaign.
The $2b Australian book industry has a strong track record in delivering innovative codes of practice that have seen Australian readers get the best book retail experience possible – timely access to a diverse array of books that are well priced.
‘This industry collaboration is unprecedented. It shows the strength of support for Australian writers and their writing, and it offers a chance to continue improving performance without putting that at risk,’ said Michael Gordon-Smith.
AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY CODES OF PRACTICE: HIGHLIGHTS
+ 14/14: At present, Australian publishers, under an agreed code of conduct with booksellers, have two short weeks to release an overseas title after it is released in the USA or UK. If they don't meet that date booksellers are free to parallel import that title. By law they only have 30 days. Consumers can freely import copies for themselves at any time. However, increasingly major international titles are released simultaneously.
+ Booksellers can buy locally on a sale or return basis. This means they can return books to the publisher that do not sell.
+ Booksellers don’t have exposure to exchange rate changes when buying from local publishers.
ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER ASSOCIATION
booksellers.org.au
The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) promotes the interests of booksellers in Australia. In 1985 the Association was incorporated in Victoria and now acts as the national body representing Australian booksellers. Members range from independent bookshops to chain and franchise shops, as well as specialist, second hand, academic and educational booksellers.
ABOUT THE BOOKS CREATE AUSTRALIA CAMPAIGN
bookscreateaustralia.com.au
The Books Create Australia campaign has gained extraordinary momentum since launching at the Australian Book Industry Awards on Thursday, 19 May. Over 11,000 Australians have signed the petition to condemn the governments plan to abolish territorial copyright, PIRs and move towards a US-style Fair Use.
Keep up with the latest news on the Australian book publishing industry’s advocacy campaign:
BOOKS CREATE AUSTRALIA
bookscreateaustralia.com.au
#BooksCreate
Twitter @bookscreateaus
Facebook Books Create Australia
Instagram @bookscreateaus
For more information and/or interviews, please contact:
Emma Rusher, House of Rusher
T 0423 213 626 / (07) 3036 2024 | E emma@houseofrusher.com