The Conseil d'Etat, France's highest administrative court, rejected Amazon's challenge over minimum book delivery fees, "as the country continues its battle to protect its cultural traditions in an age of global, digital commerce," Reuters reported. In October 2023, the French government had introduced the minimum €3 (about $3.50) fee on orders under €35 (about $40.60) to help indie bookstores counter competition from the online retailer, which had until then charged one cent on book deliveries in the country.
The French book trade welcomed the decision, the Bookseller noted. In a joint statement, the French Booksellers Association (Syndicat de la Librairie Française), the French Association of Distributors of Cultural and Leisure Goods (Syndicat des Distributeurs de Loisirs Culturels), Fnac-Darty, the largest French chain of cultural product stores, and the French Publishers' Association (Syndicat National de l'Edition) said it confirmed the position they have always held.
The council decision "is not the culmination of a struggle, but confirmation that it is worth pursuing," the statement said. "To be effective, the law must be respected by all stakeholders (and) practices to circumvent it must stop." Free deliveries to lockers and to retail outlets not stocking books have been recognized by the Book Ombudsman as being out of line, the signatories added. They also called for the book industry to remain vigilant and for the government to adopt appropriate measures, notably through a forthcoming decree that the Culture Ministry has promised will strengthen enforcement of the 1981 fixed book price law.
An Amazon spokesperson called the decision "disappointing."
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Penguin Random House UK has named 44 independent bookshops as recipients of the Penguin Children's Bookshop Grant 2026, out of 159 applications. The Bookseller reported that the publisher launched the £150,000 (about $201,075) initiative in February to support indies across the U.K. during the National Year of Reading, with bookshops able to apply for funding between £1,500 (about $2,010) and £5,000 (about $6,700). Applications were assessed based on their innovation, impact and reach, inclusivity and accessibility, clarity of plan, and value for money.
Francesca Dow, managing director of PRH Children's, said: "It has been uplifting and exciting to see the enthusiastic response to the Penguin Children's Bookshop Grant and we thank every single bookshop that entered. The ingenuity of our independent booksellers and their steadfast commitment to supporting their local communities and the young readers within them is truly inspiring and was evidenced in all the applications submitted.
"I feel sure that the work set to be delivered by the grant recipients will not only have a lasting impact on children, families and communities but also help to spark further innovation and ideas across the country, helping even more young people discover the joy of reading for pleasure. That is our hope and our aim for this grant and we are excited to see the ideas come to life in their communities."
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Reel Australian Booksellers: Farrells Bookshop in Mornington, Victoria, shared an Instagram reel featuring the staff's responses to "a simple brief. A dangerous level of honesty. Booksellers getting real. Pick a book that best describes you... the results speak for themselves. Jokingly of course. We're all brilliant. Which one are you claiming?"