(de-news.net) – Television broadcasters and streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime have been mandated to invest in European film productions as part of a broader initiative to enhance the European film industry. A legally established minimum investment requirement has been set through an agreement between the CDU/CSU and the SPD, which dictates that eight percent of annual revenues must be allocated to support film production.
Wolfram Weimer, the German State Minister for Culture, confirmed that providers who meet or exceed a 12 percent investment threshold would be granted exemptions from certain legislative obligations, including quotas for German-language films. This compromise, according to governmental sources, is designed to strike a balance: it ensures a stable flow of projects for the German film sector without imposing excessive interference on the operational models of broadcasters and streaming services. This approach aims to encourage investment in the local film industry while safeguarding the commercial flexibility of international streaming giants. Additionally, the Federal Government has approved an extra 120 million euros to reinforce Germany’s film funding system, with these new regulations forming a key part of the overall reform effort.
Cartel Office limits Amazon’s influence over vendor pricing strategies
In a separate development, the Federal Cartel Office of Germany has imposed stringent limitations on Amazon’s price control, particularly practices that affect third-party sellers on its German marketplace. According to a statement issued by the regulatory body, Amazon will no longer be allowed to intervene into the pricing strategies of these vendors, except in specific circumstances, such as when addressing price gouging. The Cartel Office expressed its concern that Amazon’s price control mechanisms could pose significant financial challenges for third-party vendors, particularly in situations where these vendors struggle to cover their operational costs. The lack of transparency of Amazon’s pricing rules, which left vendors unclear about how price thresholds were determined and why certain products were relegated to less visible positions, created significant uncertainty for third-party sellers about when and why their listings might be removed or demoted on the platform, according to the Cartel Office.
In addition, the Federal Cartel Office has initiated the process of recovering the financial advantage that Amazon gained through its anticompetitive practices, as part of a broader regulatory framework that holds digital giants accountable. This step follows the recent reform of Germany’s competition laws, which now allows for the presumption of economic advantage in cases of anticompetitive behavior. As part of this ongoing investigation, the Cartel Office has levied an initial fine of approximately 59 million euros against Amazon for its violations. However, this decision is not final, as Amazon has the option to challenge the ruling within a one-month period. Should Amazon choose to appeal, the matter will be brought before the Federal Court of Justice for a final determination.
