Bill to limit Amazon’s advantage moves forward in France; Reading Group Choices’ 2014 guide out now; National survey details reading habits; NRF predicts modest growth during holidays; Consumers use smartphones, tablets to shop; California Bookstore Day website live; NCAC in New York Times Sunday Dialogue; Thurber Prize goes to Dan Zevin; Penguin Random House merges audio; HarperCollins joins Scribd’s e-book subscription service; Chronicle Books goes green; BISG announces new mission statement, industry award winners, F+W Media partnership

Last Thursday, Amazon affiliates in Maine began receiving notices informing them of the termination of their affiliate relationships as of October 6.

Four months after the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Marketplace Fairness Act, the U.S. House of Representatives is addressing the issue of sales tax fairness. On September 18, the House Judiciary Committee released its seven “basic principles” for sales tax fairness legislation.

After challenging New York State’s sales tax fairness law three times — and losing three times — at the state level, Amazon.com and Overstock.com have taken the fight to the nation’s highest court.

Proposed oversight of Apple scaled back by judge; Online retail sales remain low for chain stores

This week, a coalition of 18 independent trade associations, led by ABA, urged the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary to hold a hearing on sales tax fairness.

Amazon has fired all its online affiliates in Missouri to avoid the requirement to collect and remit sales tax to the state. Missouri passed an affiliate nexus law in July.

Beginning September 1, Amazon.com will begin complying with Georgia’s affiliate nexus law, which went into effect on January 1. Enforcement of the law is expected to add $16 million annually to the state’s coffers and create more than 50,000 jobs.

ABA has developed an affinity partnership with Alibris/Monsoon Commerce Solutions, which gives member stores an exclusive discount on services assisting in the sale of books online.

Following its overwhelming passage by the U.S. Senate, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 awaits consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives. With no firm timeline yet set by House leadership, ABA is urging its members to write to their representatives in support of the bill, especially if their congressperson is a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary.