Spotify accuses Apple of impeding its fledgling audiobook business

Spotify launched its audiobook business just last month with 300,000 titles, but is now saying that Apple is engaging in "anticompetitive" behavior that is impinging the new business, the company wrote in a blog post. It said that Apple rejected its audiobook purchasing system three times due to a violation of its rules. To comply, it had to hide the price of the audiobooks and do sales outside of the main app via an email link.All of that makes it harder for Spotify to compete, as users can't easily compare prices. "[This] harms not only consumers, but, this time, also authors and publishers who now find themselves under Apple’s thumb." It's also highly inconvenient for buyers used to simply clicking on a link to buy an audiobook.Spotify's audiobooks could have easily been accepted if the company had followed the App Store rules, Apple told The New York Times. "We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance," an Apple spokesperson said.Spotify could also have sold its audiobooks through the App Store's purchasing system, but Apple would then take a 30 percent cut — putting Spotify's audiobooks at a considerable disadvantage against Apple Books. "With our Audiobooks launch, Apple has once again proven just how brazen it is willing to be with its App Store rules, constantly shifting the goalposts to disadvantage their competitors," said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek.Spotify is already... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2022-10-26 07:02:10 UTC ]
News tagged with: #app store #european commission #audiobook

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Spotify accuses Apple of impeding its fledgling audiobook business'

Apple loses motion to dismiss ebook antitrust suit

Apple was unable to have an antitrust lawsuit over the price of ebooks dismissed. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #antitrust lawsuit

Apple E-Book Lawsuit: Steve Jobs Swayed Publisher, Complaint Alleges

The complaint says that Jobs was enlisted to sell high-ranking officials in the publisher’s parent company on the wisdom of the proposed pricing scheme. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Microsoft, Barnes & Noble teach Apple and Amazon a lesson about educational ebooks

Nobody partners, or negotiates deals, like Microsoft. That's evident from today's stunning agreement with Barnes & Noble, which is sure to turn the ebook market on its head. The two will jointly invest in Newco, temporary name for ebook venture that incorporates B&N's digital and College... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #educational ebooks #barnes noble #ebook market #decade ago

Barnes & Noble, Microsoft team up on Nook, college businesses

An infusion of money from Microsoft Corp. sent Barnes & Noble Inc.'s stock zooming Monday, as the software giant established a way to get back into the ebooks business. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #ebooks business

Apple Rakes in $11.6 Billion in Second Quarter Net Income

Tech giant Apple reported a net income of $11.6 billion during the second fiscal quarter of 2012, up from $5.9 billion during the same period in 2011. However, international sales represent 64 percent of Apple’s quarterly revenue. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2012-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #net income #fiscal quarter #quarterly revenue

Ex-WSJ Editor Defends Apple's Ebook Strategy

The former publisher of the Wall Street Journal has defended Apple's Ebook Strategy saying it is not only good for Apple, but good for consumers and publishers as well. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook strategy

Women’s Presses Tweak Their Business Models

Approximately a dozen women’s presses are actively publishing in the U.S. today, down from about 30 during the 1990s, when feminist publishing and bookselling were at their peak. There are, additionally, several women’s presses sporadically publishing, and a few others putting out regional... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business models #regional titles

Yodel: 'New business model needed'

Yodel has promised booksellers it will succeed in delivering all parcels on time this Christmas... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Lawyer: Apple wants trial on ebook price-fixing

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc wants to go to trial to defend itself against U.S. government allegations that it conspired with publishers to raise prices of electronic books, a lawyer for the Silicon Valley giant said in court on Wednesday. Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2012-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook price-fixing #raise prices #electronic books

Apple vs. Amazon: Who Is Really Fixing E-Book Prices?

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 |

The Coming Book Wars: Apple vs. Amazon vs. Google vs. the U.S.

Unresolved conflicts among publishers, sellers, libraries, and the U.S. Justice Department cloud the future of the publishing industry. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2012-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry

Why Apple's eBook Pricing Defense Is Wrong

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 defends ebook price-fixing by calling Amazon a monopoly

Apple shot back at critics and the Justice Department late Thursday, denying claims that it colluded with publishers to keep the price of ebooks artificially high. Even more interesting? The Cupertino, Calif. company took a veiled shot at Amazon, saying its actions were necessary to break up the... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #monopolistic grip #key businesses #tablet market

Apple denies it conspired to raise ebook prices

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

Apple denies price-fixing charges on ebooks

The company says it allows publishers to set their own prices. Several antitrust lawsuits have accused former chief Steve Jobs of inflating prices of new releases and bestsellers.Apple Inc., responding for the first time to antitrust charges levied against it and five major book publishers this... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #antitrust lawsuits #electronic books

Apple Fires Back at the Feds, Amazon

Apple responds to antitrust charges: "The launch of the iBookstore in 2010 fostered innovation and competition, breaking Amazon's monopolistic grip on the publishing industry." Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #breaking amazon #monopolistic grip #publishing industry

Apple says ebook price fixing charges 'simply not true,' Macmillan also responds

Not that we were expecting Apple and Macmillan to simply fess up and say, "you're right, totally tried to circumvent the free market," but both companies have come out swinging pretty hard against the allegations of price fixing. Apple has rejected the charges, calling them "simply not true." A... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #breaking amazon #monopolistic grip #publishing industry #john sargent #court -- #daunting task