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Amazon, Apple To End Audiobook Exclusivity: EU (marketwatch.com)

Posted by msmash on from the taking-a-stand dept.

European Union antitrust regulators on Thursday said they welcomed a move by Amazon.com to end exclusivity obligations for the supply and distribution of audiobooks between the e-commerce giant and Apple. From a report: The European Commission, the EU's antitrust watchdog, said the exclusivity obligations required Apple to source only from Amazon's unit Audible and also required Audible not to supply other music digital platforms besides Apple's iTunes store. The agreement between the two companies, which was struck Jan. 5 2017, will improve competition in downloadable audiobook distribution in Europe, the EU said.

16 comments

  1. So the exclusivity agreement lasted two weeks? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm sure there were at least two or three power lunches at excellent restaurants in Frisco and Seattle though.

  2. Amazon the octopus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Cheeto in Chief has promised to bust up some monopolies such as Google, but I wish he would start with Amazon. Amazon is destroying not just bookstores but most other retail across the country.

    1. Re:Amazon the octopus by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      If Amazon destroyed Walmart, would you be happy?

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      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:Amazon the octopus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yes, amazon is at least a publicly traded company, whereas walmart 'IS' but most of it funnels money to the Walton Family.

      "something something 6 members of walton family have more wealth than bottom X0% of US" (I think it was 40% last time I saw it...

      That alone is worth breaking up walmart over

    3. Re:Amazon the octopus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So when are we all going to wake up to how evil Amazon really is? Too late it appears....

    4. Re:Amazon the octopus by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      That would actually make breaking up these people and using that money to do something sensible a good idea...

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    5. Re:Amazon the octopus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Years ago, probably. What YOU mean by "how evil Amazon really is" is "more evil than anyone or anything EVER was", which isn't necessarily true, and if not, then by that definition, never.

      But if your definition is false, then we probably reached that several years ago. You just refused to see it.

  3. wipe your ass sir? by AndyKron · · Score: 0

    $15/month to listen to someone read a fucking book. Really? I wonder how much people will pay to have their ass wiped after a good shit?

    1. Re:wipe your ass sir? by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      $15/month to listen to someone read a fucking book. Really? I wonder how much people will pay to have their ass wiped after a good shit?

      That is worth $15/month easily...

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    2. Re:wipe your ass sir? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or watch two hot Russian models wiping each other. #CrookedHillary #MAGA

    3. Re:wipe your ass sir? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Audiobooks let you enjoy novels where reading isnt practical. I have to commute an HOUR to an HOUR AND A HALF, EACH WAY from home to work and back! With Audiobooks, the drive is a little less mindless, and I can catch up on my reading in time that is otherwise wasted. Also, there are about 3.5 MILLION Americans who are legally blind. Don't you think they deserve to be able to "read" too? Just because YOU have no use for a service doesn't mean that applies to everyone else, bub!

    4. Re:wipe your ass sir? by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

      $15/month to listen to someone read a fucking book. Really? I wonder how much people will pay to have their ass wiped after a good shit?

      That is worth $15/month easily...

      If she was naked, really cute, and took her time, I might go to $20 a month for that.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    5. Re:wipe your ass sir? by Minupla · · Score: 1

      I'd read a book, but people get SO upset when they see me with a paperback in my hand going down the freeway... Turns out they're OK with me listening to an audiobook instead.

      Min

      --
      On the whole, I find that I prefer Slashdot posts to twitter ones because I don't get limited to 140 chars before
    6. Re:wipe your ass sir? by tepples · · Score: 1

      Also, there are about 3.5 MILLION Americans who are legally blind.

      I thought blind people got subsidized audio books that play in specialized DAISY players, under the U.S. Books for the Blind program and foreign counterparts.

    7. Re:wipe your ass sir? by Atrox+Canis · · Score: 1

      $15/month to listen to someone read a fucking book. Really? I wonder how much people will pay to have their ass wiped after a good shit?

      I listened to over 200 books in 2015 during my 2 hour daily round trip for work. I own well over 400 real books that I read over the years. I couldn't possibly have read 200 books with the little spare time I have so go stuff your mightier than thou attitude. And yeah, $15 a month for books that typically run about 15 hours at normal playback speed is a good deal for entertainment.

      --
      Charter Member of The Committee Group For The Elimination And Eradication Of Repetitive Redundancy
    8. Re:wipe your ass sir? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think they have that in Japan, but it's more like JPY10000 per visit.