Kobo Objects to “Devastating” Competition Bureau Agreement on Agency Pricing

Kobo has filed objections to a Competition Bureau agreement impelling four of the biggest publishers operating in Canada to renegotiate their contracts with ebook retailers.

The Feb. 7 consent agreement - the culmination of an 18-month investigation into ebook pricing in Canada - involves Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Canada, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster Canada. It requires the publishers to remove or amend clauses in their distribution agreements that restrict the ability of ebook retailers to offer discounts.