Apple and four major ebook publishers have offered retailers such as Amazon.com the option to set their own prices for ebooks for the next two years in a bid to end an antitrust investigation in the European Union. The European Commission launched the investigation into allegations of cartel price-fixing by Harper Collins, Hachette Livre, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, Macmillan and Apple last December. The publishers are accused of colluding with Apple to fix the price of ebooks, forcing up prices for consumers and attempting to squeeze rivals such as Amazon out of the market. The case hinges on so-called “agency pricing”, which allows more control by publishers over retail prices, in particular an unusual “most favored nation” (MFN) clause. Apple, Harper Collins, Hachette Livre, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan have all offered to terminate existing agency agreements and refrain from adopting price MFN clauses for five years. Penguin has not offered any commitments and an investigation into its conduct is ongoing. In addition, retailers would be free to set the retail price of ebooks, offering whatever discounts or promotions they wish, for a two-year period, so long as the total value of discounts does not exceed the total annual amount of commission that the retailer receives from the publisher, reported the E.U.’s Official Journal on Wednesday. This could mean lower prices for consumers thanks to increased competition. However the Commission is asking... Continue reading at 'PC World'
[ PC World | 2012-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The San Diego Reader is mining gold from its rich archives and releasing the treasures as a collection of six eBooks, the first installment of a series that will showcase the literary quality and historic value of a collection spanning more than 40 y ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Netflix did it with movies. Spotify did it with music. And now a New York start-up hopes to do the same with ebooks. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The federal judge presiding over the U.S. electronic books case against Apple has barred the company from striking deals that would ensure that it could undercut prices of other retailers in the ebook market.(macworld.com) Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2013-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A US judge imposes restrictions on the agreements technology giant Apple, after a court ruled it conspired with five publishers to control ebook prices. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2013-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The US Justice Department was insistent that its proposed injunction against Apple for alleged ebook price fixing was the proper remedy earlier this month, but it's now willing to budge on that somewhat. As Reuters reports, the DOJ has offered to cut the length of the injunction from ten to five... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Even as federal antitrust lawyers proposed a slight reduction in their proposed penalties in the Apple ebook case, they stepped up their criticism of the company for continuing to insist it did nothing wrong. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Following the ebook price-fixing trial, the Department of Justice wants to impose measures on Apple, but publishers say they'll be the ones hurt by the rules. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers have united to object to new Department of Justice constraints against Apple,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apparently Apple isn't the only company thinking the US Department of Justice's recently imposed remedies against it were "draconian." US publishers HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and others have also ganged up on the DOJ with a legal brief opposing the punitive restrictions. In... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five major U.S. publishers objected to the Justice Department's proposal to limit Apple's influence in the electronic books market, saying it would effectively alter their existing settlements with the U.S. government. Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The cost of ebooks has strained relations between libraries and publishers, forcing both to look for solutions. One answer is coming from distributors of self-published ebooks. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers who have settled an electronic book pricing dispute with the federal government say they object to penalties the government wants to impose on Apple Inc.A judge ruled in an antitrust case last month that Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple had joined a conspiracy to drive up the price of... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ZOO Digital surveys digital publishing executives about their ebook workflows and the comparative advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing and internal production. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a filing on Friday, Apple Inc. fired back against a series of measures proposed by federal attorneys that would restrict the company's ability to strike electronic-book deals. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US regulators have called for Apple to be forced to cancel certain ebook contracts with major publishers. Continue reading at BBC World
[ BBC World | 2013-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a decisive move in the legal battle surrounding Apple's fishy ebook pricing practices, the US Department of Justice has issued a proposed remedy aimed at leveling the playing field. The terms of the proposal, which requires approval by the court, call for an end to Apple's deals with major... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Justice Department and 33 state attorneys general want to force Apple to sign contracts with publishers that don't prevent Apple or other ebook stores from competing on price. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US District Judge Denise Cote found that Apple was part of a conspiracy to increase ebook retail prices. An Apple spokesperson maintained that 'we've done nothing wrong.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With its reputation on the line, Apple vows to appeal the federal judge's ruling that it conspired with publishers to raise prices.SAN FRANCISCO — A New York federal judge's ruling that Apple Inc. conspired to raise electronic book prices cuts straight to the heart of the company's image as a... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It was a full day of tech news Wednesday, with a federal judge ruling that Apple conspired to raise the price of ebooks and T-Mobile introducing a new plan that makes it possible for customers to change their smartphones more often. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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