The Stupidest Thing Apple Ever Did

On Wednesday, a federal judge issued a damning finding that Apple conspired with five major book publishers to fix the price of ebooks. The ruling is a chronicle of these firms’ incredible stupidity. In 2009 and 2010, the judge says, Apple and the publishers conspired more or less in the open, telegraphing their moves to the press, memorializing their discussions over email, hinting at their anti-competitive agreements in public statements, and strategizing in swanky restaurants. For a short while, they succeeded in their goal of raising book prices: Overnight, the average price of ebooks rose by nearly 20 percent, with some best-sellers shooting up by close to 50 percent. Books that used to sell for $9.99 were now $12.99 or $14.99, prices that Apple and the publishers believed would threaten Amazon.com, the undisputed king of ebooks. Continue reading at 'Slate'

[ Slate | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "The Stupidest Thing Apple Ever Did"


Apple Appeal: Judge Botched E-book Case

Apple’s appeal of its price-fixing case boils down to this: Judge Denise Cote blew it. "The evidence," Apple argues, "cannot support a finding of a conspiracy." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In appeal, Apple says ebook ruling will harm consumers

Apple had no knowledge that publishers were engaged in a conspiracy in December 2009 or at any other point, the company said in its appeal against a district court ruling which found Apple and five major U.S. publishers had conspired to fix ebook prices.The district court’s findings show that... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Distribution: Blue Apple Signs with Consortium

New Jersey-based Blue Apple Books has chosen Perseus Books Group member Consortium for its distribution in the U.S. and Canada, effective June 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Skip The Hedge Fund: We Need Young People To Take Risks And Build Inspiring Things

Our definition of success has become narrow, boring, and limited. If we want young people to be creative and innovative, we need to reward them for it. The following is an excerpt from Smart People Should Build Things by Andrew Yang. Copyright 2014 Andrew Yang. Reprinted courtesy of Harper... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Wants to Move E-book Damages Trial

Apple is looking to escape from New York. In a filing this week, Apple attorneys argue that Judge Denise Cote does not have jurisdiction to oversee its upcoming damages trial. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Remains Defiant After Loss on Monitor Appeal

In a letter filed yesterday, Apple advised the court that it would only provide those documents to the monitor that it viewed as being within the monitor’s narrow mandate. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After Losing Monitor Appeal, Apple Gets a Referee

The appointment of Dolinger to oversee any future disputes appears designed to ensure any future Apple disputes have merit, and that the parties are at least working constructively to resolve those disputes. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple monitor to stay in ebooks case, with boundaries

Apple will continue to be watched by an antitrust monitor during its appeal of a court order creating the position, a court ruled.While a setback for Apple, which had asked for a stay of the appointment of an external compliance monitor in an ebooks price-fixing conspiracy case, the ruling by... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Second Circuit Denies Apple's Monitor Appeal

A three-judge panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Apple a stay of its court-ordered external monitor. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Class Plaintiffs: Apple Should Pay $840 Million in Damages

If the plaintiff number is granted, it would put the total damages in this ebook conspiracy at over $1 billion. Five publishers have already paid $166 million. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple faces $840M ebooks claim

Apple Inc. faces as much as $840 million in state and consumer antitrust claims related to electronic-book deals with publishers as it continues to oppose a court-ordered monitor in a related U.S.... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2014-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Filing Schedule Set for Apple’s Damages Trial

Amid more legal maneuvering, Judge Denise Cote this week officially set a briefing schedule for Apple’s ebook damages trial. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Appeals Court Issues Temporary Stay of Apple’s Monitor

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals granted Apple a temporary “administrative” stay while it reviews Judge Cote’s decision to deny Apple a stay of its external monitor. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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5 Things We Learned at Digital Book World 2014

A few key take-aways from DBW 2014: teens aren't reading for fun, ebook sales grow overseas, Wall Street discounts publishing and Amazon is like modern art. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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5 Intriguing Things: Monday, 1/13

Web privacy tips, vanilla pollination, robot law, big book data, and the children of a Moscow garbage dump.     Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2014-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judge Denies Stay; Orders Apple to Cooperate with Monitor

Judge Denise Cote has denied Apple’s request for a stay of its external monitor provision, and ordered the company to cooperate fully with the external compliance monitor she appointed last fall following her ruling in Apple’s ebook price-fixing case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DoJ: Apple Waging 'Campaign of Character Assassination'

The parties will be in court today, with DoJ attorneys accusing Apple of blatantly obstructing the work of the court’s External Compliance Monitor, Michael Bromwich. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Asks Court to Fire Its External Monitor

In a letter filed yesterday, Apple attorneys asked Judge Denise Cote to fire its external monitor, Michael Bromwich. The request comes after Bromwich filed a declaration in which he detailed Apple’s resistance to his work. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DoJ, States Slam Apple’s Bid for a Stay

In a strongly-worded brief, attorneys questioned Apple’s conduct, and again suggested that the company is trumping up concerns over the court’s external monitor, Michael Bromwich. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-12-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Feud Deepens With Court-Appointed Monitor

A feud between Apple Inc. and a lawyer appointed by a federal court judge to monitor the company's ebook pricing reform became even more acrimonious Monday. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-12-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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