When the dust finally settled from the Department of Justice lawsuit against Apple and five of the then-Big Six publishers for illegally colluding to inflate the price of ebooks, essentially bilking consumers out of hundreds of millions of dollars in an effort to grab some more market share away from Amazon, the terms of the judge's ruling included a caveat. That statement was … [Read more...] about Big Five Back in Court over eBook Pricing
anti-trust
Apple Settles Out of Court in $840M Lawsuit
In the ongoing and tension-filled proceedings against Apple for its role in an anti-trust investigation and resulting lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice and multiple states' attorney general, the company has fought back at nearly every turn. Some have questioned whether this was more a matter of principle than anything else, as the attorneys' fees alone have to have … [Read more...] about Apple Settles Out of Court in $840M Lawsuit
Attorney Watchdog Named in Apple Anti-Trust Case
Part of the terms of the Department of Justice anti-trust lawsuit against Apple and several major publishers included the establishment of an external watchdog to monitor Apple's actions, especially where business deals with publishers are concerned. Today, the attorney who will serve in that capacity was named, one of two choices proposed for the role by the DoJ. Michael … [Read more...] about Attorney Watchdog Named in Apple Anti-Trust Case
Apple’s Court Date for Damages Is May 2104
Consumers who are expecting some payouts as a result of the Department of Justice lawsuit against Apple and five of the Big Six publishers will be waiting a little longer for their refunds. While the court ruled that Apple was guilty of collaborating to raise ebook prices, and even though the publishers have already settled out of court for their involvement in the allegations, … [Read more...] about Apple’s Court Date for Damages Is May 2104
Publishers Displeased with DOJ Terms against Apple
The first stage in the Department of Justice anti-trust lawsuit against Apple and five of the Big Six publishers was to secure settlements from the publishers involved. The publishers, who at the time were Penguin, Macmillan, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette but who only now include Random House due to its merger with Penguin (Random House took no part in the … [Read more...] about Publishers Displeased with DOJ Terms against Apple
Apple’s Troubles with DOJ Far from Over
Sometimes, it's just not enough to win, at least in the eyes of the Department of Justice. And when the issue involves anti-trust violations and price fixing, it can seem like it's not enough for the government to slap you on the wrist, if damages in the ball park of $266 million to $500 million can be seen as a little slap. Now that Judge Denise Cote ruled that Apple was, … [Read more...] about Apple’s Troubles with DOJ Far from Over
Apple Ruling Too Punitive?
While consumers and industry watchers alike have spent a fair amount of time waiting eagerly to see how the ruling handed down against Apple for anti-trust violations would actually impact the publishing industry, the tech company has made a statement of its own asserting that the decision by Judge Denise Cote in the case brought against them by the Department of Justice is … [Read more...] about Apple Ruling Too Punitive?
Simon & Schuster Adopts Refined Agency Pricing with Amazon UK
While the saga of alleged price fixing between several major publishers and Apple raged in the US, a similar investigation and court decision were taking place by the European Commission. Those same five Big Six publishers--Simon & Schuster, Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin, and Macmillan--ultimately came to agreements with Amazon in the US over the wholesale-versus-agency … [Read more...] about Simon & Schuster Adopts Refined Agency Pricing with Amazon UK
Apple Only Remaining Defendant in Anti-Trust Suit, CEO Might Testify
It took long enough, but the key players in the US Department of Justice lawsuit involving Apple and five of the original Big Six publishers have dwindled down to one. While Penguin, Simon&Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan have all settled out of court in the original anti-trust lawsuit that alleged the publishers and Apple conspired to fix prices on ebooks … [Read more...] about Apple Only Remaining Defendant in Anti-Trust Suit, CEO Might Testify
eBook Price Fixing Settlement in EU
While the US courts hear arguments about alleged price fixing and anti-trust issues between Apple and five of the Big Six publishers’ effort to reduce Amazon’s hold on the ebook industry, a similar investigation has been going on in the EU over the same accusations. Just as three of the publishers—Simon and Schuster, Hachette Group, and HarperCollins—settled in the US, Apple … [Read more...] about eBook Price Fixing Settlement in EU