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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Simon & Schuster becomes the latest publisher to settle an antitrust claim by a team of states, while Macmillan, Penguin, and Apple fight on. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The complaint says that Jobs was enlisted to sell high-ranking officials in the publisher’s parent company on the wisdom of the proposed pricing scheme. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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All hail the ebook! Seriously, if it weren't for this marvelous literary development, try saying with a straight face that you wouldn't at least take pause before adding a new title to your collection. Numbers are in from The Publisher's Association -- a group of 120 companies across the trade... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nobody partners, or negotiates deals, like Microsoft. That's evident from today's stunning agreement with Barnes & Noble, which is sure to turn the ebook market on its head. The two will jointly invest in Newco, temporary name for ebook venture that incorporates B&N's digital and College... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2012-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The former publisher of the Wall Street Journal has defended Apple's Ebook Strategy saying it is not only good for Apple, but good for consumers and publishers as well. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc wants to go to trial to defend itself against U.S. government allegations that it conspired with publishers to raise prices of electronic books, a lawyer for the Silicon Valley giant said in court on Wednesday. Continue reading at Baltimore Sun
[ Baltimore Sun | 2012-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple responded to DOJ antitrust accusations claiming it simply leveled the playing field against Amazon's virtual monopoly of the ebook industry. I disagree. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple shot back at critics and the Justice Department late Thursday, denying claims that it colluded with publishers to keep the price of ebooks artificially high. Even more interesting? The Cupertino, Calif. company took a veiled shot at Amazon, saying its actions were necessary to break up the... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2012-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The company says it allows publishers to set their own prices. Several antitrust lawsuits have accused former chief Steve Jobs of inflating prices of new releases and bestsellers.Apple Inc., responding for the first time to antitrust charges levied against it and five major book publishers this... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Inc. says the accusation that it conspired with major book publishers to raise the price of ebooks is untrue.Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr says that, contrary to allegations in lawsuits by the Justice Department and 15 states, Apple fostered innovation and competition by introducing its... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2012-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Not that we were expecting Apple and Macmillan to simply fess up and say, "you're right, totally tried to circumvent the free market," but both companies have come out swinging pretty hard against the allegations of price fixing. Apple has rejected the charges, calling them "simply not true." A... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five book publishers over alleged ebook price fixing means that the publishers have to... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five of the companies under investigation in Europe over ebook pricing have made representations... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple and publishers Penguin and Macmillan have decided to fight US government charges that they conspired to fix the prices of ebooks, even as three other publishers agreed to a settlement aimed at lowering prices for consumers. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three of the five book publishers sued Wednesday by the Department of Justice quickly agree to scrap their deal with Apple and claim no wrong-doing. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Attorneys General in 16 states filed suit against Apple and three publishing companies Wednesday, following a similar suit filed this morning by the US Justice Department. Unlike the federal suit, the states action also looks for monetary compensation in addition to the end of the collusive... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The U.S. filed an antitrust lawsuit Wednesday against Apple Inc. and five of the nation's largest publishers, alleging they conspired to limit competition for the pricing of ebooks. Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Department of Justice is accusing the companies of colluding to raise ebook prices by using the 'agency' model of ebook pricing. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The US accuses Apple and Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon and Schuster and Penguin of colluding over the prices of ebooks they sell. This lawsuit is over the firms' move to the agency model where publishers rather than sellers set price ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WASHINGTON -- Former Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs and top executives at five major book publishers illegally conspired to raise the prices of ebooks, costing consumers tens of millions of dollars, federal and state officials alleged in antitrust suits filed Wednesday. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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