The Israeli Statute on National Book Price Maintenance - A Critical Evaluation

On 31 July 2013 the Knesset adopted a statute on national book price maintenance, entitled the Protection of Literature and Writers in Israel (Provisional Order), 5773-2013. Formerly, there were neither mandatory rules nor consensual agreements concerning book price maintenance. The Statute entered into force on 6 February 2014 for a period of three years, during which its effects and impact on the book market were to be evaluated.

This paper analyzes the background and reasons for adopting the Statute (part II); its object and purpose (part III); its main provisions (part IV); the consequences of its adoption (part V); subsequent developments (part VI); a critical evaluation (part VII); and final conclusions (part VIII).