Bertelsmann cranks up legal fight against US book bans as market grows

By Cian Muenster and Emanuele Berro

March 26 (Reuters) - Bertelsmann BTGGg.F has stepped up legal efforts to counter the so‑called book bans in the U.S., a market that is becoming an increasingly important part of the German media group's business, its chief executive said on Thursday.

The United States accounts for 28% of Bertelsmann’s revenue, up from about 14% in 2011, CEO Thomas Rabe said during a post-earnings call. This growth has been driven by expansion across many of its businesses, including publisher Penguin Random House, music group BMG, logistics firm Arvato and education business Relias.

The company's U.S. operations contribute an even larger share of its profit, Rabe added.

In recent years, a number of U.S. states and school districts have restricted access to certain books, limiting their availability in public libraries or their use in schools. Critics have described such measures as de facto book bans.

In January 2025, the Trump administration dismissed 11 complaints related to books banned by local school districts.

“These are indeed factual book bans,” Rabe said. Bertelsmann and its publishing arm are contesting the measures in court, and the group has so far won every legal case that has been decided, he added.

"We see it as our duty to oppose not only restrictions on a single institution, but of course also the corresponding organizations that fight against restrictions on freedom of expression—and a book ban of the kind I just described is precisely that—and we are vigorously, vigorously fighting back against it," Rabe said.