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)'


Apple docked $118,000 by Chinese court for violating authors' copyrights

Apple will have to pay three Chinese authors a total of $118,000 for stocking their books in its App Store without a proper say-so, according to China Daily. A court ruled that it was Apple's job to verify that third-party uploads met copyright requirements and that it had the means to do so... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #court ruled #chinese authors #app store #china daily #ebook stores


Ukraine’s Andrei Kurkov on Self-publishing and Surrealism

Self publishing might be hot now, but under the Soviets in 1992, writer Andrei Kurkov had no other choice. He discusses what he learned and why surrealism suits Russian writers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Bloomberg Revs Up Video News Operations, Publishing 200 Clips Daily

With a global television network operation in place, Bloomberg News is using video clips from its  shows as well as Web-only videos to produce some 200 clips per day,  signaling a new "digital first" approach, says Chris Berend ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bloomberg news


Why Not Give Away Ebooks on World Book Night Too?

World Book Night gives away 500,000 print books. Wouldn't it make good sense to extend the promotion by offering free ebooks as well? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


What Would Happen Amazon Gave Every Ebook Away for Free?

Last week two of China's leading ebookstores Dangdang.com began offering nearly all of their ebooks for free, a move criticized by authors and publishers alike. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers alike


Another 20 Make List of Top Spanish-Speaking Publishing Pros

The Fundación El Libro and Buenos Aires Book Fair have added another 20 new names to the original 50 on their list of the most inspiring people in the Spanish-language book trade. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inspiring people


Amsterdam and Dutch Publishers to Speak Spanish for 3 Weeks

Amsterdam will take on the role of city of honor at the upcoming Buenos Aires Book Fair and strengthen the relationship between Latin America and Holland. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dutch publishers #latin america


Amazon Snaps Up Goodreads, A Partner Apple Wanted

This article branches off of a longer story we're tracking called Apple's New Technology Partners: What Developers Need To Know.Steve Jobs once said said, "people don't read anymore." He wasn't the only tech pundit pronouncing books dead in the middle of the last decade, as people turned to... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook stores #form partnerships #tech giants #deal worth #$200 million


HC 'keen to publish Adele'

HarperCollins has confirmed it has had talks on publishing a book from Oscar-winning singer Adele... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Publishers' online communities to double

Publisher–generated online communities, such as HarperCollins’ InkPop, Gollancz... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online communities


Granta list 'proves publishing has broadened horizons'

Debut novelist Taiye Selasi, whose tale of a fractured family Ghana Must Go was published by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Mantel leads Women's Prize shortlist charge

Hilary Mantel is in contention for yet another award, with Bring Up the Bodies (Fourth Estate) on... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hilary mantel


Turkish Publishing on the Rise: It’s “More Than Orhan Pamuk”

Turkey's professionalized publishing industry is on full display at the London Book Fair with the hope that foreigners will take a greater interest in translations and trade. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orhan pamuk #greater interest


Freelance platform Newsmodo starts meetings with UK publishers

Newsmodo, the new online platform designed to bring journalists and publishers together, is meeting with British news publishers this week ahead of its global launch. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2013-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publishers #week ahead #global launch


Self-publishing, agency lead LBF debate

The future of self-publishing, the new agency model and the Penguin Random House merger will be... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #agency model


Indie publisher staff see pay and benefits rise

Staff at independent publishers have seen increases in pay and benefits over the last three years... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent publishers


Fifty Shades of Grey pays dividends for publishing

Book publishing is a business of high stakes gambles—and trade book publishers continue to make the right bets.Helped by blockbuster titles Fifty Shades of Grey and The Hunger Games, the industry posted net revenue of $7.1 billion in 2012, up 6.2% from the prior year, according to the... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


There’s No Such Thing as “Normal,” say UK Publishing CEOs

Several UK CEOs set the agenda going into next week's London Book Fair. Top of the list: communicating with consumers and coping with the relentless pace of change in publishing. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


ePubDirect to Manage Random House’s Int’l Ebook Distribution

Random House has appointed ePubDirect to manage distribution of ebook assets and provide retail support for the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook distribution #random house #south africa


New imprint Moth to publish Northern crime

A new crime fiction imprint based in the north of England has been launched to publish the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |