“We’re in the middle rounds of the e-book antitrust case. The issue today pits Apple against District Court Judge Denise Cote, who ruled in July that the company had conspired with publishers to fix the price of e-books,” Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports for Fortune. “Apple is appealing that ruling. Meanwhile, Judge Cote has appointed a monitor — former DOJ inspector general Michael Bromwich — to make sure Apple is prepared to comply with federal antitrust laws.”
“Apple claimed Bromwich overstepped his authority and wanted him dismissed. Judge Cote refused and wrote a 64-page ruling explaining why,” P.E.D. reports. “Apple upped the ante, raising constitutional questions of separation of powers and asking for a stay. Further complicating matters: Cote is gearing up to preside over a separate case in which state attorneys general are seeking $840 million in antitrust damages from Apple.”
P.E.D. reports “‘The issue has become a “weird and fascinating grudge match,’ [my Fortune colleague Roger Parloff] writes, with legal questions so thorny that the appeals court may want to take the path of least resistance.”
Read more in the full article here.