“The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has urged local retailers with concerns about price-fixing in the electronic book publishing market to voice their concerns, as it considers its options following a US Justice Department lawsuit against Apple and five of the world’s largest book publishers,” Paul Smith reports for Financial Review.
“The book publishing world was rocked yesterday when the Department of Justice filed suit against Apple and publishers Penguin Group, Macmillan, Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, alleging they conspired to drive up the price of e-books,” Smith reports. “The ACCC said it was unable to comment on the status of any ongoing investigations. However, it was aware of the latest developments in the US concerning e-book publishing and pricing.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Idiocracy spreads like a cancer.
Related articles:
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
Governments lining up for a shot at free money. Obvious trolling is obvious.
And let’s be clear; the Australian government is bleeding money and desperate for a new source of income. Figures that they would target apple. I wish I could say it was unbelievable. But sadly it’s par for their pathetic inexperienced course!
Guess that is Obama’s fault as well. At least in the ReichWing Universe of World Nut Daily, Rush Limpaugh and Faux Newz.
Yes, what one dumbass does, other dumbasses will follow… Right dumbass?
1X will I comment of your rudeness.
Do you have anything constructive or do you simply rant and insult? It’s such behavior that has made so many sites go to heavy moderating.
@Ubermac
I couldn’t help but notice your dumbass following.
And now mine. Ooops!
Again, not a single posting by MDN on how several U.S. states (including such right-wing bastions as Texas, Alaska and Arizona) have joined the DoJ’s suit.
MDN’s agenda of distortion continues unhindered.
Note that I’m not taking any sides in this dispute as of yet, but am amused at how such a large element here loves turning this into yet another excuse to rant against the White House.
Apple is not a shining white knight, nor is it draconially evil. If there’s been evidence of illegal collusion, it’s not the end of the world.
Their argument is that after publishers went with Apple’s agency model, consumer prices for eBooks went up.
Yeah, You Dumbasses, Because Amazon Was Abusing Its Monopoly Position To Push All Competitors Out Including Bookstores, By Selling Below Cost.
Easy fix for this mess. Just price all ebooks @ 9.99 or lower. Everybody is happy then and how much would Apple really lose?
Apple doesn’t care. Apple doesn’t make money hawking e-books. Apple makes money from selling hardware.
Publishers, on the other hand, stand to lose a great deal if Amazon is able to extend their loss-leading into e-books. That’s why publishers served up the agency model to begin with.
Another perfect MacDailyNews Take.
(Brought to you by Carl’s Jr.)
Why do you keep saying that?
Monkey see, monkey do.
Apple might be the 800 lb. gorilla in the room, but it has about 800 one pound monkeys sitting on its shoulders ready and willing to take Apple down by way of various lawsuits. Apple got upgraded in an up market today and while most of the good stocks (Priceline, Intuitive Surgical, Google and Amazon) are nicely up, Apple is in the red. The DOJ is sitting squarely on Apple’s chest. I’ll bet Jeff Bezos and Amazon are having a good laugh at Apple. Apple needs to get a few powerful backers behind it like Amazon has. Apple has become a walking bullseye for everyone looking for a cut of the pie.
So very true and So VERY sad. The actions of & by the DOJ are utter extortion methods. This is how the U.S. government rewards innovation & independent thinking? SAD
I’d totally like to be able to raise money this way!!
EASY!!
It would be nice just to be able to buy ebooks in Australia, more often than not I’m told that book is available for purchase from Australia but wait I can buy it hard copy for at least triple the price with the pleasure of having to wait for the next printing to then only be told sorry its not being printed again or some other excuse