In all of the coverage of did-they-or-didn't-they aspect to the Apple ebook price fixing lawsuit, very little news came out about how the alleged secret meetings and publisher plots to take down Amazon actually affected the consumers. This week Publisher's Weekly's Andrew Albanese posted an article that details the actual breakdown by state of how many consumers were … [Read more...] about Data Reveals How Much Consumers Overspent Thanks to eBook Price Fixing
price fixing
Cote Details Limits of Apple’s Relationships with Publishers
In a seventeen page document from US Judge Denise Cote filed on September 5th, Apple learned the full extent of how it is expected to conduct business with publishers from now on. This expectation arose as a result of the price fixing allegations that rested on Apple and five of the then-Big Six publishers; Random House was not named in any of the investigations or resulting … [Read more...] about Cote Details Limits of Apple’s Relationships with Publishers
Kindle Announces Potential Refunds to Customers
In a mass email to its customers yesterday, Amazon announced some good news for customers who've been awaiting news of the results of the Apple/Big Five settlement. Despite the fact that the email didn't contain any concrete information on when customers will receive account credits or when those credits will appear, it was a small reassurance to customers that the wheels are … [Read more...] about Kindle Announces Potential Refunds to Customers
Quebec Considers Move towards Uniform Book Prices
In what is sure to become a hotly contested issue, the government of Quebec is looking at legislation that would make book prices mandated by the publishers and nearly unchangeable by the retailers. In what was supposed to be a move to give the independent booksellers a leg up over major chain retailers, online retailers, AND ebook distributors, the publishers would set one … [Read more...] about Quebec Considers Move towards Uniform Book Prices
The eBook Lawsuits Are Over…Where’s My Money?
As is the case in lawsuits involving major corporations having to pay monetary damages to their customers, the payouts from the Apple and Big Five ebook price fixing scandal will be slow in coming. With Apple's damages not to even be determined until late spring of next year, the only payments that have taken place are in the form of the settlements that the publishers reached … [Read more...] about The eBook Lawsuits Are Over…Where’s My Money?
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
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?
News from the Big Six, Apple Antitrust Settlements
Today, the final piece of the Big Six puzzle fell into place. Months after the initial co-defendants in an antitrust lawsuit settled out of court, the remaining publisher, Penguin, settled with the attorneys general from 33 states for $75 million. This settlement comes less than a year after Penguin settled a similar claim with the Department of Justice.“This proposed … [Read more...] about News from the Big Six, Apple Antitrust Settlements
Macmillan’s Settlement Terms Finalized
After countless hours of legal battle, Macmillan has finally agreed upon a settlement that appeased Judge Denise Cote and the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that alleged five of the Big Six publishers conspired with Apple to fix the prices on ebooks sold through online retailers. While the other defendants have settled as well, Macmillan's originally proposed settlement is actually … [Read more...] about Macmillan’s Settlement Terms Finalized
HarperCollins and Hachette Disband Agency Model for the UK
HarperCollins and Hachette are the first major publishers to absolve the agency pricing model for the UK version of Amazon. The two literary giants have removed the text that appears under ebook listings that said "The Price has been set by publisher." This move was due to the European Justice Department ruling that basically said price fixing cartels were illegal under EU … [Read more...] about HarperCollins and Hachette Disband Agency Model for the UK
The European Union Strikes Down Agency Pricing for eBooks
The European Union today announced a court settlement with Apple, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette and Macmillan. This paves the way for the abolishment of agency pricing for a two year period. Agency pricing basically allowed Apple to compete out of the gate against Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo by getting top publishers to agree to set the prices of eBooks, … [Read more...] about The European Union Strikes Down Agency Pricing for eBooks
Amazon Customers to Receive Account Credits from eBook Settlement
As part of the settlement terms in several states' Attorneys General lawsuits against some of the Big Six publishers over alleged ebook price fixing, Amazon customers received some welcome news today: they would be receiving account credits on eligible purchases. Three publishers, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, and Simon&Schuster, settled out of court in the resulting … [Read more...] about Amazon Customers to Receive Account Credits from eBook Settlement
Judge Approves eBook Settlement, Price Power Back to the Retailers
In a long-awaited decision from Judge Denise Cote, the court approved the settlement terms from three of the five Big Six publishers who allegedly colluded with Apple to set the prices of ebooks artificially high in order to rein in some of Amazon’s dominance over the market. This settlement will allow retailers to set the price of ebooks again, meaning the publishers will have … [Read more...] about Judge Approves eBook Settlement, Price Power Back to the Retailers
Barnes and Noble Weighs in On the DoJ Lawsuit, Predicting an Apple Victory
Last week, GoodeReader posed a rhetorical question, essentially asking why so many individuals and organizations have voiced their opinions in favor of Apple and several publishers who have been accused of colluding on ebook prices in order to drive consumer traffic away from Amazon. While there is no doubt that some parties may just see a way to bring the online retailer down … [Read more...] about Barnes and Noble Weighs in On the DoJ Lawsuit, Predicting an Apple Victory
Judge Denies Penguin’s Motion to Go to Arbitration
While the class action lawsuit against Apple, Penguin and Macmillan moves forward at an ever slowing pace, lawyers on all sides of the issue are ready to pull a few more tricks from up their sleeves. Penguin filed a motion late last month to request that consumers be required to go to arbitration in order to seek damages for allegedly overpaying for their ebooks. Penguin’s … [Read more...] about Judge Denies Penguin’s Motion to Go to Arbitration