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The French Publishers Association (Syndicat National de l'Edition, SNE) has approved about 10 pages of objections to the second draft of a settlement between Google and American publishers and authors.
SNE president Serge Eyrolles said at a new year reception that the objections, to be sent to Judge Denny Chin before 28th January, were different from those for the first draft agreement, and that some French publishers would also send their own individual objections. The first draft of the Settlement was thrown out, after the US Department of Justice objected to it.
After meeting with culture minister Frédéric Mitterrand, Eyrolles confirmed that a new law would have to be passed to extend France's 1981 fixed book price Lang Law to digital books. He expects the government to act rapidly on the issue, even though the Competition Authority said last week that it was not a good idea to regulate a non-existent market.
Meanwhile, last year was "quite good (for French book publishing) and very good for some", Eyrolles said. He added that "questions are being asked" about the 2011 Paris Book Fair (Salon du Livre), and "I am touching wood" that a consensus will be found. Hachette Livre is drastically reducing its presence at this year's fair in March because it considers the event does not justify the expense.