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 ]
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Nook out! Barnes & Noble's ebook readers come to the UK in October

US bookseller Barnes & Noble has confirmed that it will be bringing its Nook digital eBook readers and bookstore to the UK in the autumn. Initially the devices, which include Nook Simple Touch and the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, will only be available through the company’s online... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Michael Joseph to launch ebook short from Keyes

Michael Joseph is launching a digital campaign to support publication of The Mystery of Mercy... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big Hits Keep Selling Well

Swedish crime writer Camilla Läckberg has seen international success since releasing her 2003 debut, Ice Princess (published in 2010 by Pegasus), and to date her books have been translated into 33 languages. In France, her 2008 novel The Drowning was the top title. Earlier this year, Pegasus... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Court lets Google appeal ebooks class status

Google has won the right to appeal the granting of class status to thousands of authors suing the search engine company over its ambitious plan to create the world's largest digital books library. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2012-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Twitter Cofounders Unveil Medium, A Publishing Platform That Feels Like Tumblr And Looks Like Pinterest

Twitter cofounders Biz Stone and Evan Williams today offered a preview of Medium, their new publishing platform. Medium is at heart a blogging service, although right now it's only open to a select few authors. The posts are organized into "collections" that use different layouts depending on... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2012-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quercus to publish 'business god' Boulle

Quercus is set to publish a new book from reality TV star Francis Boulle. The 23-year-old... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple 'in talks' over Women's Prize for Fiction sponsorship

Apple has held talks with the organisers of the Women's Prize for Fiction with a view to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big boost for sports books

Retailers say sport could play a major part in the Christmas market, as publishers hasten to sign... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Books case tests the limits of copyright law

The Authors Guild is seeking more than $2 billion in damages from Google Books – which may make this one of the most expensive copyright damages cases in litigation history. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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More ebooks sold than print books

Online retailer Amazon announces it sells more ebooks than hardbacks and paperbacks combined. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2012-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scholastic partners with RSPCA for publishing programme

Scholastic has partnered with animal welfare charity the RSPCA for a two-year publishing deal,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Twenty pence ebook cracks Kindle top three

An ebook being offered on the Kindle store for 20p has broken the top-three monopoly of the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With Key Filings in, Trials Loom In Google Book Cases

After a round of key filings, two Authors Guild cases challenging Google’s ambitious library book-scanning program are on schedule for early fall trial dates. Final reply briefs were filed July 27 for the Authors Guild v. HathiTrust, with that case now fully briefed and all but set for a... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Report: consumers switch between print and ebooks

A new study by the Book Industry Study Group says readers are choosing both print and ebooks. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poor turnout hits ebook festival

A ebook literary festival expecting up to 20,000 visitors ends early after only 100 show up. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2012-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time To Unpackage: Publishing In The Age Of Social Media

Social media is young and its impact on news publishing is still unfolding. It’s unlikely that sharing and commenting will be the only major trends to emerge from the social revolution. News publishers, already beset by extraordinary change ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kobo launches roadshow as indies ponder ebook options

Kobo is due to launch a country-wide roadshow to showcase its ebook offering to independent... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Arrow snaps up six Sweet Valley ebook novellas

Arrow has acquired six novellas that follow on from Francine Pascal's adult novel, Sweet... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ilex Press Enters U.S. Publishing Market

After packaging for a number of American publishers, among them Focal Press, St. Martin’s, Abrams, and Chronicle, U.K.-based Ilex Press is entering the U.S. with its own line of books that is being distributed by Ingram Publisher Services. Founded in 2000 by U.K. publishing veteran Alastair... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Debate over 20p ebooks rages on

Polarised views on low ebook prices have been raised this week, as Sony and Amazon continue to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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