Winds shift toward Apple in U.S. DOJ’s e-book trial

“As the Department of Justice’s bizarre prosecution of Apple hits the halfway point of a scheduled three-week trial, there are some clues that perhaps the winds are shifting in favor of Cupertino,” Adrian Hoppel writes for Mac|Life.

“This entire case, which could only seem more sponsored by Amazon if its logo was displayed behind the judge’s bench, started out with a great deal of hyperbole against Apple, as well as a judge that seemed to have decided the case before it began,” Hoppel writes. “Now, as the smoke clears from the DOJ’s initial courtroom (and media) assault, it doesn’t seem as clear-cut to everyone that Apple is the bad guy. In fact, it is even becoming obvious to many, including perhaps the judge, that Apple actually did not do anything illegal or unethical, and has actually greatly helped the eBook market since coming on the scene.”

Read more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]

Related articles:
Day 5 of the Apple ebooks trial: Publishing execs testify; Rupert Murdoch’s role – June 11, 2013
U.S. v. Apple iBookstore case could go to the Supreme Court – June 5, 2013
Apple accuses DOJ of unfairly twisting Steve Jobs’ words in e-book case – June 4, 2013
U.S. DOJ prosecutors accuse Apple of driving up e-book prices – June 3, 2013
U.S. v. Apple goes to trial; DOJ claims e-book price-fixing conspiracy with Apple as ringmaster – June 3, 2013
U.S. DOJ takes Apple to trial alleging e-book price-fixing – June 2, 2013
In pretrial view, judge says leaning toward U.S. DOJ over Apple in e-books case – May 24, 2013
Penguin to pay $75 million in e-book settlement with US State Attorneys General – May 23, 2013
The hot mess that is Apple’s e-book legal fight with U.S. DOJ – May 16, 2013
Apple: Deals with publishers improved e-books competition – May 15, 2013
Apple tells U.S. DOJ of tough talks, not collusion, with publishers – May 15, 2013
EU ends e-book pricing antitrust probe into e-book pricing; accepts offer by Apple, four publishers – December 13, 2012
Apple, publishers offer EU e-book antitrust settlement – September 19, 2012
Judge rubber-stamps U.S. e-books settlement – September 6, 2012
Apple, four publishers offer e-books antitrust concessions, says source – August 31, 2012
Apple bashes Amazon, calls U.S. DOJ settlement proposal ‘fundamentally unfair, unlawful, and unprecedented’ – August 16, 2012
U.S. antitrust settlement with e-book publishers should be approved, feds say – August 4, 2012
U.S. Justice Department slams Apple, refuses to modify e-book settlement – July 23, 2012
U.S. senator Schumer: Myopic DOJ needs to drop Apple e-books suit – July 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

26 Comments

    1. Not over till its over. Prosecution raised unsent memo by steve jobs that showed distain for Amazon. Defense pointed out that it was an “unsent” memo….. Judge struck the Defense’s comment. In other words, we are looking at the thought police. Think bad thoughts and you are guilty!!!

      Scary stuff here. I am sure that the Supreme Court would stick down but still, unsent memos, bad thoughts, bad looks, where does it end.???

      1. “In fact, it is even becoming obvious to many, including perhaps the judge, that Apple actually did not do anything illegal or unethical, and has actually greatly helped the eBook market since coming on the scene.”

        To see this case as anything but a politically motivated witch hunt you have to have a law degree and a government job.

        Do we really want these people running our health care system?

  1. Why am I not surprised by this….

    You either believe what Cook said about the situation or you don’t. I tend to think Apple is a bit more ethical that most companies so I’ll tend to give them the benefit of doubt. When they prove me wrong, then I’ll change my position.

  2. Sue first and ask questions later?!

    Shouldn’t this past muster, be investigated thoroughly and actually have real merit before a knee jerk lawsuit is filed by an incompetent DOJ against an American iconic innovator and industry oracle?

    Time to eat crow and have egg all over you DOJ.

    And let’s hope this is also the beginning of the awakening to the reality that Apple is the victim and target of a consorted smear campaign and effort by jealous competitors and corporate incompoops (not to exclude analists) that : ‘no can do’

    1. Not a lawyer, but maybe they can turn around and sue the DOJ for strong-arm tactics, and/or extortion.

      I wonder if the judge is ready to espouse a mid-trial opinion at this time; she seems to enjoy keeping a running commentary on things.

      1. Nope. Their options were to settle or go to trial and fight it out.

        The difference could be what the DOJ had against the individual publishers as they relate to each other and to Amazon, vs. what they have against Apple, which seems to be very little.

  3. Amazon looks guilty of conspiracy. If Apple wins, it essentially means Amazon is guilty. Apple should fund their lawyers to file a class action lawsuit against Amazon on behalf of publishers and consumers.

  4. I don’t care what the facts are or what is legal

    Regardless of the facts revealed Apple is wrong , colluded with the publishers to defraud the public and anybody who denies it is an apple fan boy.

    fuk facts.

    1. sfgh, you said it so right and correct …… for you…

      “I don’t care what the facts are or what is legal ” in other words, anyone who disagrees with you is stupid, dumb, blind, and opinionated, and you…. or course….. are none of these things.!!!!

      Please say hello for me to the Samsung guy paying you.

      Just a thought.

        1. if it’s a troll he’s not doing a good job

          he’s got to be WAY more over the top for people to identify it as sarcasm due the NORMAL retard logic of SFGH ( SFGH is so stupid that his serious posts sound like satire… )

  5. “Let’s make a go at creating a $12.99 and $14.99 eBook market.” Steve Jobs.

    Bullshit Apple isn’t guilty. Apple colluded with industry to fix and inflate eBook prices across the industry.

    You idiots keep mentioning Amazon. You realize that ALL of these fucking publishers had agreements with Amazon and were FREE to make any deal they wanted with Apple? You get that right?

    But Apple wouldn’t let ANY of them make any deal with anyone else that was really any different than their Apple deal. Not only were publishers who signed with Apple not allowed to sell for less anywhere else, they couldn’t even sell for MORE anywhere else.

    It’s blatant price fixing full stop. It’s ridiculous. And all of the publishers worked together with Apple to make this happen in that they wanted to be assured all the other publishers were playing along.

    This article is just probably some paid Apple PR bullshit.

    1. sfgh imagined this:
      “Not only were publishers who signed with Apple not allowed to sell for less anywhere else, they couldn’t even sell for MORE anywhere else.”

      Wrong again sfgh. Why don’t you go read what the deal REALLY is about? The deal sets an UPPER LIMIT on ebook prices, and any publisher is free to charge less. Get it?

  6. “as well as a judge that seemed to have decided the case before it began”

    That’s why DOJ brings Applw to tral. Not to see if they are guilty but because they are in DOJ’s eyes.

Reader Feedback

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.