Two amendments on the second-hand book could animate the budgetary discussions in the Senate in the coming days, according to the finance bill for 2025 of the High Assembly.
These texts propose creating a contribution for second-hand book resale platforms, intended to compensate for the loss of income of authors and publishers. Inspired by the Society of Gens of Letters (SGDL) and supported by nearly twenty senators, they echo a previous unsuccessful submission to the National Assembly. The objective is to put on the table the question of the abuses of the second-hand market and its deleterious effects on the book industry.
According to Patrice Locmantgeneral director of the SGDL, this filing responds above all to an institutional blockage: “As the Ministry of Culture does not wish to open this debate, there are other ways to do it. Parliament becomes an alternative to bring together stakeholders and lay the foundations for reflection. »
A sector worried about unbalanced growth
The second-hand book market is experiencing unprecedented expansion, particularly thanks to online platforms. According to a recent study by the Ministry of Culture, this dynamic is significantly eroding revenues from the new market, directly affecting authors and publishers. In 2024, losses linked to copyright would reach 850 million euros, representing a major shortfall for literary creation.
“Publishers reinvest part of their profits to finance new projects and publish new authors. If these resources diminish, all of creation becomes poorer.”underlines Patrice Locmant.
The platforms, for their part, capture an increasing share of the economic value of the book, without redistributing this windfall to its creators.
The proposed amendment is inspired by the private digital copying model: a contribution collected by an approved organization and distributed equitably between authors and publishers. However, no precise rate has yet been set, leaving room for consultation with all the stakeholders concerned.
Additional avenues to protect the new home market
Beyond this contribution, several solutions are being considered to preserve the economic balance of the sector. Among them, the establishment of a media chronology adapted to books, similar to that of cinema.
Patrice Locmant explains: “The idea would be to prevent the resale of a second-hand book less than six months after its publication. This would give new items a chance to sell before facing unfair competition from the second-hand market. »
Another avenue mentioned is that of a resale right. Already applied to works of art, this system would allow authors to receive income from each resale of their books. However, its technical implementation remains complex, particularly for tracing transactions.
Finally, certain publishers and booksellers are calling for strengthening regulations on the supply of platforms, which sometimes sell almost new books at knockdown prices. This practice, perceived as a departure from the principle of a single price, further weakens the market.
A necessary debate for a unifying subject
Despite its uncertain chances of adoption, the amendment has already succeeded in uniting the entire book chain. Authors, publishers, booksellers and other stakeholders agree on the urgency of acting. “All links in the book chain agree on the importance of preserving the book economy in the face of second-hand growth,” rejoices Patrice Locmant.
If the Senate were to reject the amendment, other legislative opportunities could emerge. A dedicated parliamentary mission or the integration of these questions into the future Darcos law on copyright are under study. At the same time, lobbying the Ministry of Culture remains a preferred way to promote initiatives.
For Patrice Locmant, the main thing is that the debate is launched: “If Parliament does not decide, the subject will remain on the table. The growth of second-hand goods in the face of the stagnation of new goods will become an essential issue for the entire sector. » It remains to be seen whether this amendment will be the first stone of a legislative building, or simply an alert to raise awareness among decision-makers.
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