Apple, ebook publishers look to settle EU antitrust dispute

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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Amazon will no longer strong arm ebook publishers in Europe

The European Commission has accepted Amazon's changes to how it sells its ebooks. Following a 2015 investigation over the retailer's anti-competitive behaviour, Amazon said back in January that it would change its ebook contracts, removing clauses t... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: BookExpo’s ‘First Amendment Resistance’; EU Research Looks at VAT on Ebooks

Publishers' responsibilities with 'controversial authors professing what seem to be unpopular opinion' at BEA, while Brussels gets some perspective on VAT. The post Industry Notes: BookExpo’s ‘First Amendment Resistance’; EU Research Looks at VAT on Ebooks appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the duopoly’s shadow, Apple News is finding favor with some publishers

While publishers sour on Facebook, they're optimistic about the traffic and subscription growth they're seeing from Apple News. The post In the duopoly’s shadow, Apple News is finding favor with some publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Caleb Carr’s The Alienist to be published as an ebook for first time

Mulholland UK is publishing Caleb Carr’s debut, The Alienist, and Angel of Darkness for the first time in ebook, as well as three new books by Carr. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher to host EU celebration night on day of Article 50 trigger

Canbury Press is to host a gala evening to "celebrate the contribution of Europeans to the UK" as prime minister Theresa May prepares to trigger Article 50. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers urged to respond to Amazon's new ebook offer

The European Commission (EC) has confirmed that Amazon has offered to remove controversial Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clauses in ebook contracts and is asking publishers for feedback on the pledges. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU ebook ruling means change to PLR, says SoA

The Society of Authors has welcomed the European Court's ruling on e-lending, which it argues removes “the final barrier” to applying Public Lending Right (PLR) to the remote lending of ebooks and audiobooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European Publishers 'Shocked' at EU E-book Lending Ruling

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that lending of ebooks and physical books should be treated the same. Publishers immediately objected to the decision, fearing unrestricted ebook lending would cut into revenues. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU Court Decides in Favor of Ebook Lending; FEP Responds

The Federation of European Publishers argues that a recent EU court decision in favor of ebook lending could negatively affect ebook sales in some countries. The post EU Court Decides in Favor of Ebook Lending; FEP Responds appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital Census: 'self-published writers to grow ebook market share'

Self-published writers and digital only publishers will continue to grow their share of the digital content market while traditional publishers over-price ebooks, according to early results of the FutureBook Census, launched ahead of this year’s FutureBook Conference, taking place on 2nd December. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon and EU 'in settlement talks' over ebook investigation

Amazon Inc and European Union regulators have started settlement discussions over the internet giant’s ebook deals with publishers, according to news reports. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU proposals could see news publishers paid by Google and Facebook

Measures are part of a series of planned European commission changes designed to strengthen rights of creators and publishersNews publishers would have stronger rights to demand payment from digital giants such as Google and Facebook in exchange for using their content, under proposed European... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How to get your Amazon credit from Apple's ebook price-fixing settlement

You might have a few extra dollars to spend on Amazon this week, all courtesy of Apple. On Tuesday, Amazon started issuing refunds as part of Apple’s price-fixing settlement. If you purchased a qualifying ebook from Amazon, you will be automatically receiving credits in your account. All you... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Check your Amazon account for free credit as Apple coughs up in ebook lawsuit settlement

Following a court ruling that it was involved in ebook price-fixing with five publishers, Apple has started the process of paying back $400m in refunds. Despite agreeing to pay out the thick end of half a billion dollars, Apple denies doing anything wrong. Interestingly, the payouts will not... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2016-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Maryland ebook consumers to share in $9 million Apple settlement

Thousands of Maryland consumers who bought electronic books at artificially inflated prices will get their share of $9 million in credits and checks from Apple this week, Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh said Monday.The credits, first announced in March, are part of a $400 million... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2016-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple to begin paying Arizonans $8.6M for ebook settlement

Arizonans who purchased ebooks from Apple Inc., will receive their cut from a price-fixing settlement over the price of ebooks, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office. Arizonans will see a total of $8.6 million out of a $400 million settlement. Customers who bought ebooks from... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2016-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU referendum 2016: where does publishing stand?

Britain will vote this week on whether to remain in or leave the European Union, but what does the book trade think? Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair 2016: Hachette CEO Presses Chinese Publishers, Blasts EU Copyright Proposals

Hachette CEO Arnaud Nourry said defeating the European Commission's copyright proposals should be the IPA's "number one" goal. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Self-published titles '22% of UK ebook market'

Sales of self-published ebooks accounted for 22% of the digital book market in the UK last year, the Nielsen BookInsights Conference today was told, although growth in overall ebook sales is slowing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On newspapers and ebooks, the Justice Department's antitrust theory is obsolete

Almost every antitrust case turns on the definition of the market at issue, whether by product or geographically: Is a monopoly threatened in the market for all passenger vehicles or only two-seater sports cars? Are we talking about detergent sales nationwide or only in Wyoming? The Department of... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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