CALIBA Urges Bookseller Attendance at Antitrust Hearing

The California Independent Booksellers Alliance strongly encourages California independent bookstore owners to add their voices to a June 20 hearing on California’s antitrust law. 

The California Law Revision Commission, assigned by the state legislature to study the state’s antitrust law, invited CALIBA members to listen to expert testimony and share their thoughts on adapting the law for the 21st century. Organizations including the Economic Security California, Small Business Majority, and Institute for Local Self-Reliance would like booksellers to speak out on behalf of their stores and small business owners. 

The hearing takes place from 10 a.m–5 p.m. PT. Two-minute public comments and personal stories may be shared via Zoom at the virtual meeting, for which participants must register to attend. Those unable to attend may share written remarks with CALIBA executive director Hannah Walcher and CALIBA staff, who will read statements during the comment period. 

 “The event will include hearing from experts and the general public on how they should strengthen (or not) existing laws which govern mergers and acquisitions and if California should further regulate big tech platforms (e.g. Amazon, Google, etc),” CALIBA notified members in its newsletter. “The experts will discuss some of the potential harms not currently addressed in California’s existing laws including practices such as bundling, exclusive dealing, non-competes with employees, price discrimination, self-preferencing products on platforms, data mining, and below-cost pricing which harm small business owners.”