Amazon, Publishers Seek to Knock Out Refiled E-book Price-Fixing Suit (publishersweekly.com)

Through the first six weeks of the third quarter, the average time for delivery of mail and packages across the postal network remained just 2.4 days. Third quarter service performance scores covering April 1 through May 13 included: *First-Class Mail: 93.4 percent of First-Class Mail delivered on time against the USPS service standard, an increase of 5.6 percentage points from the fiscal second quarter. *Marketing Mail: 95.0 percent of Marketing Mail delivered on time against the USPS service standard, an increase of 2.8 percentage points from the fiscal second quarter. *Periodicals: 86.7 percent of Periodicals delivered on time against the USPS service standard, an improvement of 5.2 percentage points from the fiscal second quarter.

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) welcomes the release of the 2018 Special 301 Report by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The Report highlights key markets in which publishers have significant copyright concerns and face market-access barriers. The Report is a critical tool for policymakers to identify barriers that impede the ability of U.S. copyright owners to compete in foreign markets. The Report notes that the U.S. “remains deeply troubled by the ambiguous education-related exception to copyright that has significantly damaged the market for educational publishers and authors.” This overbroad fair dealing exception for education has led to systematic, uncompensated copying and confusing guidance to courts. Reform is necessary to instill balance into the law and ensure that authors and publishers are appropriately compensated for the use of their works. Click Read More below for additional information.

Third quarter operating income improved due to higher revenue per shipment and a net fuel benefit at all transportation segments. The quarter's results also benefited from lower variable compensation expense and less severe winter weather, resulting in favorable year-over-year comparisons. The improved results were partially offset by the effects of the Omicron variant, as well as higher purchased transportation costs and wage rates. FedEx Ground operating results declined primarily due to increased rates for purchased transportation and employee wages, network inefficiencies, and expansion-related costs. These costs were partially offset by higher revenue per package, a boost from two additional ground commercial operating weekdays, and a net fuel benefit. Average daily volume was flat, as Ground Economy declined and growth in commercial and FedEx Home Delivery services was constrained by the effects of the Omicron variant. FedEx Freight third quarter operating income nearly tripled, driven by a continued focus on revenue quality and profitable growth. Revenue per shipment increased 19% and average daily shipments grew 2% during the quarter, while the operating margin increased 850 basis points to 15.0%.