1.
resale price maintenance system
A pricing system in which the manufacturer sets the retail price and retailers cannot discount it. In Japan, this is legally permitted for certain categories such as books, newspapers, and music CDs.
Because of the resale price maintenance system, new books are not discounted.
Short for 再販売価格維持制度 (resale-price maintenance system). Compound of 再販 (resale) + 制度 (system).
Usage
In most industries, manufacturers in Japan cannot dictate the retail price under antitrust law. The 再販制度 is a legal exception that covers a small set of cultural goods (books, newspapers, magazines, music CDs), partly to protect small bookstores and ensure uniform availability.