Until 1979 fixed prices of the books on the French market were maintained as a result of voluntary agreement between publishers and booksellers.
[1] In 1979 decrees forbidding such practices were issued by René Monory, French Minister of the Economy at the time.
Repealing of Monory's reforms of the book market, in order to protect small, traditional booksellers from competition of big stores and chain retailers (such as Fnac), was part of François Mitterrand's electoral program during presidential campaign in 1981.
[2][3] In August 1981, the French parliament voted unanimously in favor of the law proposed by Lang.
[5] Due to this law it is illegal to provide e-books of French publishers as a part of subscription service for a flat, periodical rate.