Justice Department formally charges Apple, big five publishers in ebook price fixing case (update)

The Justice Department has formally decided to sue Apple, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillian, Penguin and Simon & Schuster over alleged ebook price-rigging. Apple and Macmillian have already denied any wrongdoing, saying that the agreements were enhancing competition in an industry previously dominated by Amazon. The case centers around a deal to switch to agency pricing, where the vendor takes a 30 percent cut of each sale rather than the wholesale model which allows stores to sell books at rock-bottom prices. It was previously believed that the publishers had cut back-room deals with the Government agency after bowing to pressure to withdraw Cupertino's "favored nation" status. If successful, the DoJ will allow Amazon and Barnes and Noble amongst others to return to the wholesale model to sell best-sellers at a loss, something that the big five are desperate to avoid, and will look to fight the battle in court. Update: The PDF of the DoJ's filing is now available online -- it makes for fascinating reading. Update 2: Bloomberg is now reporting that Simon & Schuster, Lagardère SCA's Hachette Book Group and HarperCollins have settled with the DoJ over unspecified terms. Hasty!Justice Department formally charges Apple, big five publishers in ebook price fixing case (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Bloomberg, Department of Justice filing (PDF)  | Email this | Comments Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #sell books #previously believed #favored nation #fascinating reading

Other news stories related to: "Justice Department formally charges Apple, big five publishers in ebook price fixing case (update)"


Justice Department formally charges Apple, big five publishers in ebook price fixing case (update)

The Justice Department has formally decided to sue Apple, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillian, Penguin and Simon & Schuster over alleged ebook price-rigging. Apple and Macmillian have already denied any wrongdoing, saying that the agreements were enhancing competition in an industry... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fascinating reading #favored nation #previously believed #sell books


Senator Schumer sides with Apple and publishers in ebook price fixing case

A prominent Senate Democrat sided with Apple this week, and called on the Justice Department to drop its ebook lawsuit against the Cupertino, Calif. company. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote in an opinion piece that appeared in the Wednesday edition of the Wall Street Journal that a victory... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebooks market #opinion piece #ebook lawsuit #justice department


Lawyers Argue that E-book Price-Fixing Case Against Amazon, Big Five Publishers Should Proceed

In a lengthy opposition brief filed this week, lawyers for a potential consumer class portrayed their case as the second act of the Apple e-books case and insisted there is more than enough evidence for the case to proceed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-book


Amazon.com and 'Big Five' publishers accused of ebook price-fixing

Class action lawsuit filed in US claims the houses have colluded with the online giant to keep prices artificially highAmazon.com and the “Big Five” publishers – Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster – have been accused of colluding to fix ebook... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-15 13:04:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan #ebooks #retail platforms #retail giant #district court #law firm #simon schuster #online giant #ebook price-fixing #publishers accused


What the Conclusion of the Apple Pricing-Fixing Case Means for Publishers and Consumers

After four years of litigation, the Apple price-fixing case is over. But when can consumers expect to see the $400 million in refunds coming their way? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #$400 million


Apple ebook price fixing case won't reach the Supreme Court

Apple's last shot at avoiding a $450 million ebook price fixing settlement just went out the window. The US Supreme Court has declined to hear Apple's challenge of an appeals court decision that left the company on the hook for allegedly conspiring... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2016-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #supreme court #hear apple


Supreme Court denies Apple appeal in ebooks price fixing case

Apple will pay $450 million as a settlement for ebook price fixing after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the company's appeal of a lower court's antitrust ruling.The Supreme Court's decision Monday ends Apple's appeal of the antitrust case against the company and five book publishers and... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishers #supreme court #lower court #antitrust case


Apple loses appeal on ebook price-fixing case, will pay $450 million

An appeals court upheld a lower-court ruling that Apple violated antitrust laws to upset Amazon's control of the ebook market.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook market


Will the Apple ebook price-fixing case be turned upside down?

During an appeals court hearing on the Department of Justice's price-fixing case against Apple, some judges argued against the DOJ, asserting that Apple was simply challenging 'predatory' pricing from rival Amazon. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rival amazon #price-fixing case


Apple agrees to pay up to $400 million in ebooks price-fixing case

Apple has reached a settlement in a long-standing case that accused the company of fixing the price on ebooks, with the company paying up to $400 million, depending on the outcome of its appeal in the case, a law firm has announced. Apple would pay the $400 million in the class-action lawsuit if... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #class-action lawsuit #law firm #$400 million


Apple agrees to pay $450m settlement in ebook price fixing case

iPad manufacturer to pay damages contingent upon appeals court ruling over whether it conspired with publishers to fix pricesApple has agreed to pay $450m (£262.7m) in the US to settle claims the iPad manufacturer conspired with five major publishers to fix ebook prices.It came ahead of damages... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook purchasers #simon schuster #harper collins #damages trial #settle claims #apple agrees


Apple settles ebook price-fix case

The tech giant has agreed to settle a US legal action in which it was being sued over conspiring with publishers to fix ebook prices. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #legal action #tech giant


Settlement reached with states in Apple ebook price-fixing case

Apple has settled a portion of its ebook price-fixing case involving several state governments which were seeking up to $840 million on behalf of consumers. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #$840 million


Judge bars Apple from price-fixing deals with ebook publisher

Apple says it will appeal against a court ruling that bans the company from entering into deals with publishers that could allow ebook prices to be fixed or inflated. The case was raised by the Department of Justice and judge Denise Cote's decision is very much in line with what they were... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook prices #court ruling #ebook publisher #-based company


DOJ defends Apple ebook price fixing injunction, says publishers had it easy

The US Department of Justice isn't buying publishers' arguments that proposed injunctions against Apple for alleged ebook price fixing are excessive and contradictory. DOJ attorney Lawrence Buterman claims in a response letter that the penalties against Apple are necessarily harsher, since it... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #giving amazon #agency pricing


Judge finds Apple went against anti-trust laws in ebook price-fixing case

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 ]
More news stories like this |


States reach $69 million settlement with three publishers in ebook price fixing case

When the US Department of Justice sued Apple and five major book publishers over alleged ebook price rigging, it immediately became clear that a few of these companies would do just about anything to avoid trial. That same day, three of the publishers -- HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #give customers #abc news #barnes noble #bought ebooks #simon schuster


Apple denies price-fixing charges on ebooks

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 ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #electronic books #antitrust lawsuits


Apple says ebook price fixing charges 'simply not true,' Macmillan also responds

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 ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #daunting task #court -- #john sargent #publishing industry #monopolistic grip #breaking amazon


Apple, ebook publishers accused of price fixing

Apple's Steve Jobs played a key role in a price-fixing plan with five ebook publishers, federal and state officials say in antitrust lawsuits.WASHINGTON — Former Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs was a key player in a conspiracy with five major book publishers to drive up the price of... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital books #key player #antitrust lawsuits #state officials #ebook publishers #key role #price fixing