“As the only remaining defendant in the U.S. government’s e-books antitrust case, Apple Inc appears headed for a high-stakes trial that could significantly increase the personal computer company’s liability in related litigation,” Andrew Longstreth reports for Reuters. “Apple faces a June 3 trial date over civil allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice that it conspired with five publishers to raise the price of e-books and to fight the dominance of Amazon.com Inc. On Friday, Macmillan became the fifth and final publisher to settle with the government. The Justice Department alleges that Apple came to agreements with each of the publishers meant to ensure that e-book prices at its iBookstore and other retailers would remain higher than those offered by Amazon.com.”
Longstreth reports, “Among other things, government lawyers want the judge to issue an order enjoining Apple from engaging in any conduct similar to that alleged in the case. Such a judgment could make Apple vulnerable to steep damages in related litigation. Apple and the publishers also face a class-action suit filed on behalf of consumers and a similar suit filed by dozens of state attorneys general. Neither suit puts a figure on the exact amount of damages sought.”
Longstretch reports, “Apple and the government have less to argue over since those deals have been undone, Daniel Crane, a law professor at the University of Michigan Law School, said. ‘What are they fighting over?’ he said. Crane added that Apple may be interested in going to trial to establish an antitrust principle that might help other aspects of its business such as content deals with entertainment companies.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The U.S. DOJ is plainly inept.
Killing real competition for the appearance of competition is just plain stupid.
Related articles:
In e-book case, U.S. DOJ settles with Macmillan; case continues against Apple – February 8, 2013
U.S. reaches e-books settlement with Penguin – December 18, 2012
Apple’s U.S. e-books antitrust case set for 2013 trial – June 24, 2012
U.S. government complains, claims Apple trying to rush e-books antitrust case – June 21, 2012
Barnes & Noble blasts U.S. DOJ e-book settlement proposal – June 7, 2012
Apple: U.S. government’s e-book antitrust lawsuit ‘is fundamentally flawed as a matter of fact and law’ – May 24, 2012
Federal Judge rejects Apple and publishers’ attempt to dismiss civil case alleging e-book price-fixing – May 15, 2012
Court documents reveal Steve Jobs email pushing e-book agency model; 17 more states join class action suit – May 15, 2012
Apple vs. Amazon: Who’s really fixing eBook prices? – April 17, 2012
Apple: U.S. DOJ’s accusation of collusion against iBookstore is simply not true – April 12, 2012
Apple not likely to be a loser in legal fight over eBooks – April 12, 2012
16 U.S. states join DOJ’s eBook antitrust action against Apple, publishers – April 12, 2012
Australian gov’t considers suing Apple, five major publishers over eBook pricing – April 12, 2012
DOJ’s panties in a bunch over Apple and eBooks, but what about Amazon? – April 12, 2012
Antitrust experts: Apple likely to beat U.S. DOJ, win its eBook lawsuit – April 12, 2012
Why the market shrugged off the Apple antitrust suit – April 11, 2012
What’s wrong with the U.S. DOJ? – April 11, 2012
Macmillan CEO blasts U.S. DOJ; gov’t on verge of killing real competition for appearance of competition – April 11, 2012
U.S. DOJ hits Apple, major publishers with antitrust lawsuit, alleges collusion on eBook prices – April 11, 2012
U.S. DOJ may sue Apple over ebook price-fixing as early as today, sources say – April 11, 2012
So where was Tim Cook sitting last evening?
I hope Apple knows what it is doing. The settlements (deals) with the five publishers may have included some form of admission naming Apple as a conspirator.
Apple charged 30% of all priced e-books. The prices of e-books were less at Amazon and others. Yet Apple sold more than other outlets.
Apple didn’t set the price. Where is the antitrust when you could by cheaper at Amazon or other e-book distributors and read them on Apple products?
I side with Apple and the publishers here. 10 dollars for an Ebook is nothing. Should the author and the publisher make no money at all? I mean, seriously. 10 dollars is nothing for a book. The book business is hard. Especially for authors that just get a few percent of the cover price. I would not mind paying 11-15 dollars for a good book which still is insanely cheap. People complain that there is no print involved ad therefor the books should be cheaper. Good point but for once, let them make at least a little but of money. This is their one change to increase margins just a bit. To let Amazon destroy publishers and authors for the sake of cheap goods is not fair. Amazon does not care about books, publishers or authors. They care about selling as much they can for as low a price they can of anything. Sound kinds stupid to say I want to pay more for books but I want to pay a fair price. Publishing is a hard business. And for authors to be compensated there is a need for at last a little but of margins. I saw a guy on Bloomberg the other day from the business ad he said only the top percent of authors make any money, the best selling stuff and they get like 6% of the cover price. If you can’t self publish like Steven King and get up to 70% of the cover price author books won’t make you money. I think we all, if we were authors would want to be fairly compensated. Writhing a book is very often a exhausting task. It takes time and energy and lots of knowledge. At least I feel they should be fairly compensated. If you don’t want to pay more than 9,99 for a book. Don’t buy ’em!
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