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

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Depp steps into book publishing

Johnny Depp launches his own book imprint with publishing company HarperCollins. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2012-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple, Amazon Inform Customers of Settlement Refunds

According to the terms of a settlement between the DoJ and three major American publishers, some customers may receive refunds on their ebook purchases. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Geras new Arrow publishing director

Cornerstone has appointed Jenny Geras as publishing director of Arrow, with Geras moving from Pan... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Johnny Depp will launch a publishing imprint

Infinitum Nihi – Johnny Depp's new publishing imprint with partner HarperCollins – will publish titles including a Bob Dylan biography and a novel by Woody Guthrie. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Haynes to sell ebooks independently

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[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon to refund ebook customers

Amazon contacts some US customers to detail partial refunds for ebooks as part of a settlement regarding price fixing. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2012-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon may offer refunds on ebook purchases

Amazon has announced it will give Kindle owners refunds on past ebook purchases if a settlement with publishers accused of fixing prices is approved. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon.com tells customers: settlements a "big win"

Amazon.com has begun telling customers that they may be eligible to receive a refund on ebooks... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kindle Users To Get Refunds And Lower Prices on E-Books After Settlement

Buy a lot of ebooks? Thank your state attorney general for the credit you'll get next year. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Irrational Allure of the Next Big Thing

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[ Slate | 2012-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicago Tribune Launches Ebook Initiative - but L.A. Times Opts Out

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[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Times Publishing Company Selects Brainworks Advertising

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[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pivotal piracy case could put copyright trolls out of business

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[ PC World | 2012-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google, publishers shelve book-scanning suit

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[ Stuff | 2012-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trade publishing 'an opportunity for private investors', Frankfurt hears

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[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Casual Vacancy’ and the State of Big (Print) Debuts

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google, Association of American Publishers strike deal over book digitization

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[ Engadget | 2012-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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