15 October Webinar: How to Address the e-Lending Problem – Competition and Copyright Law Perspectives

15 October Webinar: How to Address the e-Lending Problem - Competition and Copyright Law Perspectives See the recording e-Books: Evidence and Analysis of e-Lending Markets in Europe - A KR21 Study When? Date: 15 October, 2025 Time: 12:30-14:00 CEST / 11:30-13:00 BST What? This webinar with authors Dr. Kenneth Barr, Dr. Magali Eben, Matteo Frigeri and Prof. Martin Kretschmer from the CREATe Centre, University of Glasgow, accompanies the launch of a new KR21 study: “ e-Books: Evidence and Analysis of e-Lending Markets in Europe - Competition and Copyright Law Perspectives.” Based on an empirical study of e-Lending markets the webinar will discuss the challenges that current e-Book market norms pose for libraries and their patrons from the perspective of competition law and copyright law. Save Your Spot! Register now to secure your spot. The Webinar This report examines markets for e-Book lending by academic and public libraries in Europe from competition law and copyright law perspectives. Drawing on a sample of licensing contracts, interviews with librarians in four European markets (Denmark, Poland, Republic of Ireland and the UK) and a review of secondary data, the markets are analysed in relation to theories of harm under competition law. The report finds significant problems in e-Lending markets with respect to market structure, licensing and pricing. Problems and potential solutions will be addressed in the webinar from the perspective of potential abuses of market power which are identified and examined: Refusals to supply: outright and withdrawals; Constructive refusals to supply: restrictive licensing conditions/delayed supply; Bundling; Unfair trading conditions; Excessive pricing; Avoidance of the spirit of other laws, e.g. the copyright exception for text and data mining; and, Lack of transparency. Furthermore, linked to a recent KR21 report on e-Books and secure digital lending in European Libraries , interventions in copyright law which may address these problematic market practices (using under competition law concepts) will also be outlined in the webinar. Curious to know more? Whether you’re a librarian, policy maker, a student, a researcher or someone who barely knows anything about the topic, then join this webinar to learn how you can secure a sustainable digital future for digital lending and access to e-Books. Why You Should Attend Libraries and their patrons have, for millennia, been able to acquire, develop collections, preserve, and lend books. While a work is still in copyright, limitations and exceptions, as well as the exhaustion doctrine, support these four pillar functions of libraries. However, the move to digital has undermined the ability of libraries to act as they have always been able to. This is because when these activities take place digitally, the safeguards that exist under copyright laws are trumped by contract law, offering no protections for libraries and their patrons. Not only does this undermine the core function of what a library is in the 21st century, downstream it negatively impacts on the ability of students, researchers, clinicians etc and members of the public and to acquire knowledge - something that underpins the smooth-functioning of the...

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