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Apple Fires Back At DoJ Over eBook Price Fixing
An anonymous reader writes "CNN takes a look at Apple's response to the Department of Justice's investigation into eBook price fixing. The filing 'cuts the government's case to shreds' while at the same time not bothering to defend the five publishers also under investigation. Apple said, 'The Government starts from the false premise (PDF) that an eBooks "market" was characterized by "robust price competition" prior to Apple's entry. This ignores a simple and incontrovertible fact: before 2010, there was no real competition, there was only Amazon. At the time Apple entered the market, Amazon sold nearly nine out of every ten eBooks, and its power over price and product selection was nearly absolute.'"
Unfortunately I think the argument that Apple itself isn't responsible will probably be considered true in the end. The book publishers on the other hand can, and should, still get nailed to the wall. Charging as much for an ebook as a physical book is completely off-base. You still have to make the money back on editors, artwork, advertisement, etc., but the physical print, transportation, and storage costs should cause those books to be discounted a good amount. As it is, much of the time you can buy a print edition cheaper than an eBook version on new releases...
Apple certainly deserves some of the blame, but I just can't see the DOJ managing to make it stick against them in this case.
Before iBooks, I bought a lot of stuff from Ereader.com, and here are some of my comparisons (in GBP)
Revelation [Mass Effect Series Book 1] £2.99 - iTunes price £4.99
Ascension [Mass Effect Series Book 2] £2.99 - iTunes price £4.99
Pandoras Star £4.99 - iTunes price £8.99
Judas Unchained £4.99 - iTunes price £8.99
Those examples were purchased in 2008, the iTunes prices are right now. I could go rough the other 50 or so books I purchased if you wish?
None of the purchases I made on Ereader are currently available for new purchase - I can still download my purchased copies under my account, but you couldn't buy them now.
I think the DOJ have a fairly decent case here.