“The high-fives must have been flying at Amazon this morning: millions of the company’s customers got notices to spend credits at its Kindle store, and Amazon didn’t have to pay a cent,” Jeff John Roberts writes for Gigaom. “Meanwhile, rival Apple will likely underwrite an even bigger shopping spree for Amazon customers sometimes yet year.”
“Welcome to the ironic denouement of l’affaire ebooks, which reached a climax in 2013 when a federal judge found that Apple had brokered a conspiracy with book publishers to fix prices. The legal tussle resulted in the publishers settling their cases — which is what paid for the customer credits that went out today — while Apple fought on alone,” Roberts writes. “For now, the biggest winner is Amazon, which already dominated the ebook market at the time of price-fixing scheme in 2010. Today, as a result of lawsuits brought by the Justice Department and state governments, Amazon is an even stronger position with the publishers; it will also get a healthy cut of the $160 million or so that the publishers agreed to pay under a settlement.”
Roberts writes, “Right now, [Apple] is in the midst of high legal torture at the hands of a hostile judge, class action lawyers, state attorneys general and the Justice Department.”
Say what? The usual criticism of Obama and his administration is that they’re socialists. Despite their name, the Nazis were far-right fascists – the very opposite of socialists. You seem to be a little unclear on the concept . . . .
Ya. That’s why I said “despite their name.” Like East Germany’s name was the German Democratic Republic, yet it wasn’t democratic at all. Try a little research.
But they weren’t “socialist” as we understand the idea today. Socialism meant something very different to Germany back then—it was akin to what we call “nationalism” today. Case in point: the damn Nazis sent communists to the concentration camps along with jewish and homosexual people.
So THAT is what that email was about, that I had a $.73 credit for ebooks. I was confused, especially since I’ve never bought an ebook from Amazon in my life. Never will either, especially after Amazon pulled this crap. This whole lawsuit is so blatantly political that it just makes me sick. Whatever agenda “they” (whomever they may be) are trying to shove down Apple’s throat, I hope Cook stands firm and doesn’t budge. And how very like the government — trying to take down America’s brightest and best company; a socially responsible, financially sound company. Sure can’t have that stuff going on around here . . .
Those who qualified had a period when they could take the settlement in cash (US $). Those that opted not to now have store credit at Amazon for ebooks or physical books.
I have been and am a customer of Amazon and the amount is pretty small. I have bought a large number of books and the settlement was a little over $22. I’ll try not to spend it all in one place.
I’m done with Amazon. If I can buy online somewhere else I will!
Me too, for years now. They can shove those credits up their asses.
My creed is buy local.
Hell with all of ’em, just gonna write my own books.
…just going to write sequels to already successful titles, my first project will be “The Raisins Of Wrath.”
then “Illegal Military Police Actions And Peace.”
then “Lady Chatterley’s Lesbian Lover.”
LOL
I saw the movie and give it 5 stars.
with latin subtitle: “Labia Omnia Vincit”
OR the second ending, tongue-in-cheek: “Lingua Omnia Vincit”
Thank you for your input, Ellen. You are such a cunning lass.
I quit amazon a while ago.. Put them where samsung is.
Ebay has everything i need ..
Hopefully someone will end up in jail when this egregious scandal is finally unravelled.
Please don’t insult Lady Elaine Fairchilde like that.
Say what? The usual criticism of Obama and his administration is that they’re socialists. Despite their name, the Nazis were far-right fascists – the very opposite of socialists. You seem to be a little unclear on the concept . . . .
uh, Joe, tyranny is tyranny, doesn’t matter if it’s a swastika or a star or an eagle or an echidna. Wake the fuck up.
Other than the wake up call at the end, you are right. Tyranny is tyranny regardless of political stripe.
I misread that; I thought you said “a tranny is a tranny”. Darn dyslexia.
Well, the Nazis were the National Socialist Party.
Just sayin’…
don’t confuse Joe with unrevised history.
Ya. That’s why I said “despite their name.” Like East Germany’s name was the German Democratic Republic, yet it wasn’t democratic at all. Try a little research.
But they weren’t “socialist” as we understand the idea today. Socialism meant something very different to Germany back then—it was akin to what we call “nationalism” today. Case in point: the damn Nazis sent communists to the concentration camps along with jewish and homosexual people.
For books, I buy online from Alibris.com
So THAT is what that email was about, that I had a $.73 credit for ebooks. I was confused, especially since I’ve never bought an ebook from Amazon in my life. Never will either, especially after Amazon pulled this crap. This whole lawsuit is so blatantly political that it just makes me sick. Whatever agenda “they” (whomever they may be) are trying to shove down Apple’s throat, I hope Cook stands firm and doesn’t budge. And how very like the government — trying to take down America’s brightest and best company; a socially responsible, financially sound company. Sure can’t have that stuff going on around here . . .
To hell with Amazon
Ban Amazon don’t buy some Amazon
This ignorance is so deep I’m not even going to begin shoveling.
Those who qualified had a period when they could take the settlement in cash (US $). Those that opted not to now have store credit at Amazon for ebooks or physical books.
I have been and am a customer of Amazon and the amount is pretty small. I have bought a large number of books and the settlement was a little over $22. I’ll try not to spend it all in one place.
On the same day I received a $3 “settlement” from Amazon , and over $200 in Apple credits. (I read a lot)