Reuters reports today that Apple has responded to a Justice Department accusation that the company colluded with publishers to increase e-book pricing. The Cupertino company asserts that it negotiated separately with the publishers, reaching different agreements with each one.
But Apple said the publishers had decided, independent of Apple, to eliminate discounts on wholesale book prices of e-books, to sell lucrative hardcover books first to bookstores in a practice called windowing and to take other measures to push Amazon to raise prices.
In an April 26 court filing, Apple said that it had approached publishers to create an online bookstore that would eventually become the iBookstore. Apple asserted that it had demanded a 30% commission, assurances the publishers would not undercut prices paid to Apple, and had demanded that the practice of “windowing” be scrapped.
Early negotiations were reported by Apple as “tough,” with Apple demanding a 30% commission and price caps. Each publisher immediately responded with their own counterproposals.
Apple also lays the blame for any collusion at the feet of the publishers, claiming that before the company entered the e-book market, publishers were already engaged in a battle to break Amazon’s grip on the low-cost e-book marketplace.
Originally filed in April of 2012, the lawsuit included HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan and Penguin. The Justice Department has since settled with the publishers, and has since concentrated on Apple.
I’ve read what little I could find in terms of independent analysis of this suite, and I have to say I’m inclined to agree with Apple on this one. Seems to me like the folks at the Justice Department are focusing on the wrong folks in this case.
14281 80964Spot up for this write-up, I seriously believe this site needs a lot far more consideration. Ill apt to be once much more to learn additional, appreciate your that information. 416802
281085 574558I gotta favorite this internet web site it seems handy . 530777
880330 859484Intersting post and site. Great that Google listed so i was able to get here. This internet site will go no in my bookmarks from now. 918154
694267 561209Some really nice stuff on this internet site , I enjoy it. 585300
639093 428081Immigration […]the time to read or go to the content material or sites we have linked to below the[…] 21343
420051 4451Ive been absent for a whilst, but now I remember why I used to love this site. Thank you, I will try and check back more often. How regularly you update your site? 920083
331967 31510There a few fascinating points in time in this post but I dont know if I see these center to heart. There might be some validity but Ill take hold opinion until I explore it further. Excellent post , thanks and then we want a lot a lot more! Put into FeedBurner too 168947
672231 277483quite good publish, i surely adore this web site, carry on it 310221
197428 350324Helpful data. Fortunate me I discovered your web internet site by chance, and Im surprised why this twist of fate didnt happened earlier! I bookmarked it. 245681