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


At Orion Party, Publisher Praises E-sales to 179 Countries

At the UK Orion Author Party, 95-year-old Lord Weidenfeld's presence contrasted with the news that the Hachette Group sold more than 70m ebooks last year. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lord weidenfeld


Canongate to publish Drabble's digital backlist

Canongate has signed five of Margaret Drabble's backlist to release as ebooks for the first... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital backlist #margaret drabble


Amazon Prime price jumps to $99 per year

Amazon is tacking $20 onto the price of its Amazon Prime service, bringing the yearly cost to $99.This is the first price hike for Amazon Prime since it was introduced nine years ago. The service originally included just free two-day shipping on most orders, but has since expanded to offer Prime... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon prime #price hike #kindle devices #existing members #higher rate


US price hike for Amazon Prime

Amazon is to increase the price of its Prime membership in the US by $20 to $99 a year. This... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #price hike #amazon prime #prime membership


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, March 12, 2014

B&H author on Dancing with the Stars; Religion Communicators honor books; Outreach magazine selects winning titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short takes


Where did the story of ebooks begin?

Peter James's Host, published on two disks, was an early example – but exactly where the medium started life is surprisingly tricky to identifyWhat was the first ebook? Debate rages … When Peter James published his thriller Host on two floppy disks, in 1993, it was billed as the "world's first... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #growing interest


Amazon Publishing launches German language programme

Amazon Publishing is launching a German language programme, after being "delighted"... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon publishing


Starbucks picks Frederator Books' ebook

Frederator Books, the year-old children’s ebook publishing program founded by cartoon veteran Fred Seibert, is getting a boost in the arm, or at least a shot of caffeine: Letters From Catbug,... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #frederator books


DiPreta Named Publisher of Hachette Books

The Hachette Book Group has appointed Crown Archetype editor-in-chief Mauro DiPreta v-p and publisher of Hachette Books, a new division. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette books


Indian Publisher Pauses on Second Hinduism Book

An Indian publisher says it will have independent scholars examine objections from a conservative Hindu group to a book by American religion scholar Wendy Doniger. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Monthly Magazine #2: Ebooks Around the World

Our digital magazine for March focuses on ebook businesses and initiatives around the world, from sales to format, enhanced content to devices. Download your copy here. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital magazine #enhanced content


Why so many digital publishers are flocking back to print

Digital publishers like Politco, Pitchfork, and Pando are reworking their online brands for print, a medium that they were supposed to replace.The post Why so many digital publishers are flocking back to print appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print appeared #digital publishers #online brands


Indie Creators Self-Publish 1,000 Comics on ComiXology in One Year

On the one-year anniversary of the service, digital comics locus ComiXology says it now offers more than 1,000 titles through its self-publishing platform Submit.     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #one-year anniversary


Comixology Submit Marks Birthday With Big Offer

Digital comics vendor Comixology marked the one year anniversary of Comixology Submit, its fast-growing self-publishing platform, with the offer of a bargain e-bundle collecting the top 100 books from the Submit program for $10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


New Tribune Publishing CEO Jack Griffin Wants to Develop Company's Marketing Arm

Tribune Company has named Jack Griffin CEO of its publishing unit, the company said Thursday. His first day is April 14.The publishing unit, which consists of eight newspapers including the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, was formed last July when Tribune announced its intention to spin... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #entertainment company #marketing arm #newspapers including


Libraries, Authors and Publishers Head to SXSW 2014

SXSW Interactive (March 7-11), the annual tech festival, opens today in Austin, Tex. and expect to see a wide range of publishers and publishing-related events. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers head #opens today #wide range #publishing-related events


Digital media a priority for Tribune Publishing CEO Jack Griffin

Veteran publishing executive Jack Griffin will be CEO of Tribune Publishing, which is being spun off from Tribune Co. Times Publisher Eddy Hartenstein will chair the board in a non-executive role.Veteran publishing executive Jack Griffin has been named chief executive of the new Tribune... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tribune publishing #chicago tribune #non-executive role #newspapers including


Children's publishers respond to 'gender' debate

There has been a mixed responses from children's publishers to a campaign encouraging them to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers respond #campaign encouraging


Can A Startup Help Publishers Cut Out Twitter, Facebook, And Flipboard?

Connecting content creators and consumers would be an enormous coup for news sites, magazines, TV networks, and other media. We look at three startups that could help.At magazines like Fast Company, we rely on distribution networks to get our articles to our readers. In print, the primary... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Digital publishers chase video with mixed results

Text-based Web publishers like Business Insider and Vox Media are trying their hands at video. But some are doing a better job of it than others. The post Digital publishers chase video with mixed results appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mixed results #business insider #vox media