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 ebook trial concluding

The Apple/ DoJ ebook price fixing trial will enter its final sessions later today (20th June),... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

How Apple shook up the electronic book market

Apple didn't try to fix or raise the prices of electronic books when it entered into the market in 2010, according to Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue. Rather, he says, the company was only working to ensure a profit for itself."We're not willing to lose money in any business," Cue told the... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #penguin group #lose money #electronic books #apple didn #district court

Apple, Amazon and the Disgruntled Publishers

“They had a relationship that was not positive. You heard a lot of negative things from them.” – Apple media boss Eddy Cue, testifying during the DOJ antitrust trial Monday, describing the way book publishers viewed Amazon, circa 2009 Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Apple's Cue Says Publishers Pushed for Higher E-Book Prices

The man the Department of Justice calls the "chief ringleader" of Apple's alleged conspiracy to raise ebook prices finally takes the stand in the government's price-fixing case against Apple. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #price-fixing case

Apple executive Eddy Cue defends ebook deals at antitrust trial

Government lawyers allege the agreements Apple signed in 2010 with five publishers amounted to a conspiracy to get consumers to pay more for electronic books.NEW YORK — Eddy Cue, the Apple Inc. executive in charge of negotiating the company's controversial ebook deals, defended how the tech... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #witness stand #online bookstore #electronic books #antitrust trial

Apple’s Cue Felt Pressure to Finish E-Book Deals for Jobs

Apple Inc. (AAPL) executive Eddy Cue told a judge he felt extra pressure to reach deals with ebook publishers in time for the introduction of the iPad in 2010 because of company cofounder Steve Jobs’s precarious health. “Steve ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ebook publishers

Apple tells price fixing courtroom it owns 20 percent of the ebook market

Apple director Keith Moerer said in court on Tuesday that the company holds about 20 percent of the US ebook market, double the size commonly assumed. The revelation came after the Department of Justice tried to bolster its price fixing case against the company by asserting that "Apple forgot to... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #online store #ebook market #court --

Is Steve Jobs Message a Smoking Gun in Apple E-Book Case?

Apple may not have been quite as indifferent to publishers' deals with Amazon as it professes to be. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Survey Shows Amazon Leads Japan in Ebook Sales, Apple Already Second

A new survey in Japan shows that Amazon's Kindle is leading the market for ebook sales, with Apple (launched in March) second, followed by Kinokuniya's Kinoppy, Sony's Reader Store and Kobo. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ebook sales

Apple's E-Book Market Share Is Bigger Than You Think

The head of Apple's iBookstore says Apple has captured 20 percent of the U.S. ebook market. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ebook market

Amazon's E-Book Deals Were Just as Tough as Apple's

It turns out that Apple isn't the only major ebook retailer that demands "most favored nation" agreements from publishers. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #favored nation

Apple Says Differences in Publisher Deals Belie E-Book Conspiracy Charges

Straightforward, above-board dealings or clever obfuscation? Another one for the judge to decide. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Shanks: 'We clashed with Apple'

Penguin Group c.e.o. David Shanks has testified in support of Apple on day two of the anti-trust... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #penguin group #david shanks

Apple, U.S. come out swinging as ebook trial gets underway

Apple cost readers hundreds of million of dollars by conspiring with five major publishers to fix prices, government says. Apple says the antitrust case is bizarre. NEW YORK — Apple Inc. and five major publishers conspired to fix prices on ebooks, costing consumers hundreds of millions of... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #antitrust case #fix prices #major publishers #ebook trial

E-book trial: Government says Apple conspiracy raised prices

NEW YORK -- Apple and major publishers conspired in a scheme to fix prices on ebooks, costing consumers hundreds of millions of dollars, a U.S. Justice Department attorney argued during the first day of a marquee antitrust trial.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #fix prices #e-book trial

Apple ebook deal 'cost millions'

A deal between Apple and publishers to set the price of ebooks cost customers "hundreds of millions of dollars", a government lawyer claims. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Apple Starts E-Book Trial Monday at a Disadvantage

Apple heads to a U.S. federal court Monday to face civil accusations that it conspired with five publishers to drive up the price of electronic books in the weeks leading up to the 2010 introduction of the iPad. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #weeks leading #electronic books

Apple fights US charges over ebooks

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 |

Apple ebook price-fixing trial about to get underway

The Justice Department will lay out in a civil antitrust trial its accusations that Apple masterminded a cartel with publishers to raise ebook prices.For a company that beat down prices of online music, Apple Inc. finds itself in the odd situation of defending itself against government claims... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #electronic books #government claims #justice department #fix prices

US can prove Apple pricing conspiracy

The US has evidence that will show Apple participated in a conspiracy to raise the prices of ebooks, the judge overseeing the government's civil antitrust case against the company says. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |