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
Technology giant Apple is to begin its defence against charges by the US government that it colluded to set the prices of ebooks. Continue reading at BBC World
[ BBC World | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
By minimizing the risk of buying a bad book, pay-as-you-read business models could translate into higher prices and higher quality content, but will it drive more sales? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#higher prices
The Justice Department said today it had reached a settlement with Penguin Group (USA), one of six companies it had accused of conspiring to raise prices of ebooks. The agreement, if approved by the court, would leave only two companies -- Apple and Macmillan -- facing the lawsuit, due to go to... Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2012-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#justice department
#e-book pricing
#raise prices
#simon schuster
According to Reuters, EU regulators look likely to accept an offer from Apple and a handful of publishers, including Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Livre and Macmillan. The assembled publishers propose that they will allow retailers (including Amazon) to sell ebooks cheaper than... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#book publishers
#eu regulators
#hachette livre
Amazon is forcing publishers to start negotiations over ebook prices exclusive of the full 20%... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#ebook vat
#forcing publishers
Amazon will offer partial refunds to customers who bought ebooks between April 2010 and May 2012 a result of the settlement in a price-fixing case between publishers and the attorneys general of most U.S. states. The retailer is notifying eligible customers by email. Compensation ranges from... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#court approves
#print books
#official website
#barnes noble
I bought my first ebook in 1999 and in recent years stopped purchasing print altogether. My wife is a relative ebook newbie, so I am surprised that she and not me received surprising email today from Amazon about a forthcoming purchasing credit. Perhaps you got similar message. In April, the... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2012-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
Apple and four major publishers have offered to let retailers such as Amazon sell ebooks at a discount to settle an EU antitrust investigation into their pricing deals and avoid possible fines. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2012-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#major publishers
Apple and four major ebook publishers have offered retailers such as Amazon.com the option to set their own prices for ebooks for the next two years in a bid to end an antitrust investigation in the European Union. The European Commission launched the investigation into allegations of cartel... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#increased competition
#proposed remedies
#interested parties
#provide feedback
Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster say they will pay consumers to settle claims they conspired to fix ebook prices. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#publishers agree
#simon schuster
#settle claims
Hachette US, HarperCollins US and Simon & Schuster US have agreed to pay out a total of more... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#simon schuster
Apple called the DOJ's proposed settlement to the ebook price fixing case 'fundamentally unfair, unlawful, and unprecedented.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#apple called
#proposed settlement
Believe it or not, but that whole ebook price fixing fiasco is still an ongoing issue for the Justice Department. New York's senior senator, Chuck Schumer wishes it wasn't however, he simply wants the DOJ to drop the case and walk away. In a lengthy (factually questionable) op-ed in the Wall... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#retail giant
#source link
The Justice Department meant business when it accused Apple and five other publishers of price-rigging ebooks, and are officially taking Cupertino and two publishers to court. In a hearing on Friday, Judge Denise Cote set a bench trial for June 3, 2012, putting Apple, Macmillan and Penguin Group... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#accused apple
#penguin group
#agency pricing
#justice department
A brouhaha is shaping up: Apple and book publishers square off against Amazon and the DOJ over the price of an ebook. Who's right? CIO.com's Tom Kaneshige looks back to a Whiz Kid from the '90s for answers. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
Apple responded to DOJ antitrust accusations claiming it simply leveled the playing field against Amazon's virtual monopoly of the ebook industry. I disagree. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#playing field
Apple Inc. says the accusation that it conspired with major book publishers to raise the price of ebooks is untrue.Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr says that, contrary to allegations in lawsuits by the Justice Department and 15 states, Apple fostered innovation and competition by introducing its... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2012-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#apple denies
#justice department
#monopolistic grip
#publishing industry
#$100 million
Alleged collusion aside, the publishing industry's agency pricing model may actually protect the long-term interests of everyone in the ebook value chain. Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2012-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#e-book argument
#alleged collusion
#publishing industry
This week, the Obama administration’s Justice Department struck a great legal blow against our open market for books, and indeed against open markets in America. Even though online retailer Amazon has captured more than 50 percent of many key book markets—like the one for ebooks—antitrust... Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2012-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#obama administration
#open market
Apple Inc. is denying antitrust charges filed against it and five major book publishers this week that accuse the companies of a price-fixing scheme to inflate the prices paid for electronic books. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#electronic books