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)'


Curtis Brown's self-publishing list 'exciting', say authors

Authors Tony Parsons and Jane Fallon have said Curtis Brown’s new digital self-publishing... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #curtis brown #jane fallon #digital self-publishing


Publishers, Agents Turn to Latin America Amid Crisis in Spain

Spain’s financial crisis and slump in book sales has led Spanish-language publishers to focus on Latin America, with agents bypassing Spain to sell rights directly in the region. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #financial crisis #book sales #latin america


Curtis Brown launches digital programme with Kindle Direct Publishing

Agency Curtis Brown has launched a digital self-publishing programme through Kindle Direct... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Mobile Self-publishing Platform XinXii Launches in Russia

German self-publishing platform XinXii, which allows indie authors to sell their titles through mobile ebook shops, has gone live in Russia. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie authors


How Frankfurt is Helping to Create a Magreb Publishing Community

Nacéra Khiat of Algeria's Editions Sedia discusses how training in Casablanca by the Frankfurt Book Fair has brought together disparate publishers from across the Magreb. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


E L James as 'Publishing Person of the Year' draws outcry from literary world

Publishers Weekly faces controversy after naming 'Fifty Shades of Grey' author E L James 'Publishing Person of the Year' for 2012. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing person #literary world #fifty shades


Futurebook: publishers must look outward

Leading publishing figures stressed the importance of becoming more outward looking and consumer... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


E-Serials as the “Third Layer” in the Publishing World

Plympton—a startup publisher of serialized digital fiction—was created as 'a nimble alternative to the major publishers and online markets,' as the founders explain. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing world #major publishers


Thomson named as News Corp publishing head

Robert Thomson has been named as the head of the separated publishing business soon to be formed... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #robert thomson


Publishers in 'dream' position, FutureBook hears

Publishers have "done a lot right" and are standing in a much stronger position in the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stronger position #futurebook hears


Argentina’s Adriana Hidalgo Wins FIL Publishing Merit Award

Argentine publisher Adriana Hidalgo has won this year’s Publishing Merit Award at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, in recognition as Latin America’s most widely distributed independent publisher. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latin america


Amazon Publishing to Open European Division

Amazon's Jeff Belle announced in a letter to literary agents that Amazon Publishing will begin building a European publishing division in 2013. Hiring will begin in January. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon publishing #literary agents


Bloomberg's Licencing Chief on How to Sell Your Content to Other Publishers and Partners

If you've got content you think other publishers want to buy, what do you need to do to to make it an attractive proposition?   A good example of a successful licencing operations is Bloomberg, which provides content to more than 600 publish ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #attractive proposition


Amazon to begin European publishing push from 2013

Amazon has said that it is to open a European publishing wing headquartered in Luxembourg,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Why Publishers Need to Collaborate with Tech Companies

At the Guadalajara Book Fair, Bill McCoy of the IDPF and Pablo Defendini of Safari Books encouraged publishers to abandon DRM, and set their own prices. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tech companies #bill mccoy


Google Fights Foreign Attempts to Charge Fees for Newspaper Links

Google is taking on the German government with a new "Defend Your Net" campaign that aims to fight attempts there to pass a law that would allow German newspaper publishers to charge fees to Google for providing links to newspaper stories. ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #german government #newspaper stories


Simon & Schuster gets wise to self-publishing

Simon & Schuster Inc. is getting on the self-publishing bandwagon. The book publishing division of CBS Corp. announced Tuesday that it has joined with veteran self-publishing firm Author Solutions, Inc., to form Archway Publishing, a service that will focus on writers who want to publish... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2012-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional publishing #senior analyst #book industry #direct connection


Nosy Crow to publish book of John Lewis Snowman ad

Children's publisher Nosy Crow has partnered with John Lewis to create a picture book of the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nosy crow #publish book #john lewis #picture book


Corporate to Startup: The New Publishing Career Path?

In the modern world of book publishing, should we all be preparing for a second career as an entrepreneur? Plenty of our colleagues are choosing that career path. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #career path #modern world #book publishing


S&S to launch self-publishing service with Author Solutions

Simon & Schuster has teamed up with Author Solutions to launch a self-publishing service... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author solutions #simon schuster #self-publishing service