Introduction

"To promote and represent publishing as a cultural sector and a creative industry" is one of IPA's objectives as laid out in the IPA Statues.

To find out more about what IPA does to promote the industry (e.g.: VAT, standards, free circulation etc.), please take a look at the various pages of this section.

Latest News

In March last year, IPA launched its first annual global survey on VAT on books and e-publications. It is now launching an updated version of this annual survey. 88 countries have been surveyed. In a global context where standard VAT rates are on the rise, special treatment for books remains the norm. As far as e-publications are concerned, a small number of countries have already adopted a real non-discriminatory, consistent tax regime. The study concludes that Korea, which boasts the world’s 8th largest publishing industry, should serve as a model in this respect. See Press Release of 7 July 2011. See Global Survey on VAT on Books.

At the Frankfurt Book Fair last week, IPA officially adopted a statement asking governments for better cooperation when managing the digital migration in education.See Press Release of 15 October 2010. See Statement.

A joint statement released by the International Publishers Association, the International Association of Scientific Technical and Medical (STM) ) Publishers, and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) calls for a more rational, evidence based debate on open access. It encourages experimentation and piloting of new concepts and ideas, whilst acknowledging that the differences in the different academic disciplines and publishing traditions may lead to differentiated approaches and business models in support of authors. See Press Release of 20 May 2009 & Full Statement.

IPA draws the public's attention towards the passionate and loyal readers, who because of visual impairment or other physical disability are unable to read books in the same way as sighted readers. See Resolution of 14 April 2008.