France moves to curb book discounts, cites Amazon’s “predatory behavior”

French lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill that will bar booksellers from offering five-percent discounts and free shipping at the same time — a move that appears aimed squarely at US retail giant Amazon. According to Le Monde, lawmakers from both the left and right have overwhelmingly passed an amendment to a 1981 law that regulates the book industry. The bill must also pass in the French Senate and be signed by the president. It has the support of the governing party, which has said the purpose of the proposed law is to “limit predatory behavior.”