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Justice Department Calls Apple the "Ringmaster" In e-book Price Fixing Case
An anonymous reader writes "Back in April 2012, the U.S. Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and a number of publishers for allegedly colluding to raise the price of e-books on the iBookstore. As part of its investigation into Apple's actions, the Justice Department collected evidence which it claims demonstrates that Apple was the 'ringmaster' in a price fixing conspiracy. Specifically, the Justice Department claims that Apple wielded its power in the mobile app market to coerce publishers to agree to Apple's terms for iBookstore pricing."
Such activities involve a pretty large number of people. It's interesting how they collectively can keep it a secret for a pretty long time.
It's even amazing that the "fixed" prices are not essentially different than Amazon or Alibris or BN. Very clever price fixing indeed.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Sounds like Amazon's monopoly was broken. What's the problem with that again?
Amazon gained its market share by competing on price, Apple got forming a cartel with publishers using price-fixing.
Amazon had a monopoly which they used to abuse the publishers. Apple made separate deals with each publisher (which is not collusion or price-fixing) which broke Amazon's monopoly.
This is exactly how the market is supposed to work. Where once there was one eBook provider, there are now four major providers. Apple is not even the biggest one! How can that be a monopoly or even a trust?
The bottom line is non-apple customers are being hurt by this, including children.
Seriously, how can you say something like this with a straight face? That's straight-up trolling.
Aside from being Apple, which you hate irrationally, what exactly is your complaint? What do you think Apple did that was wrong? They used an existing model, which is legal. They broke a monopoly, which is not only legal, but generally considered beneficial. They brought eBooks to more people.
And in the end, Amazon is still the top eBook seller, so Apple didn't even take a controlling share of the market. So what did they do wrong?
It's worth noting that all of the publishers have settled with DoJ without a fight.
It's worth noting that Apple hasn't. You do realise the publishers may have colluded without Apple's involvement.
You need to be more of a shill. It's only super obvious, not quite the hyper obvious you're apparently going for.
This is exactly how the market is supposed to work. Where once there was one eBook provider, there are now four major providers. Apple is not even the biggest one! How can that be a monopoly or even a trust?
You forgot that Apple is eeevil. And Google isn't, so Google is right. Sorry, we are talking about Amazon. Amazon isn't Apple, so Amazon isn't evil, so Amazon is right. And Kindle uses Android which is free so Kindle doesn't use DRM. Well, it isn't DRM because it works on all Kindles. But Apple uses AAC for music which is proprietary and evil and DRM. Even though the A's don't stand for Apple but for Advanced and Audio and there is no DRM, but it is Apple and Apple is evil.
Do I get modded up now?
One problem is that prices went up 50% literally overnight when Apple got all the publishers to agree to force Amazon and other sellers to charge more.
Two problems there. First where's the evidence that eBook prices went up at all, let alone 50%. People have found individual cases of books that went up, and books that went down. 50% is far too round a number to represent anything other than somebody making up statistics on the spot.
For their part, Apple claims average ebook price went down from $7.97 to $7.34. Can you prove them wrong?
Secondly, you repeat the Justice Department's assertion that Apple orchestrated price fixing. It's an allegation not a fact. You don't knwo any better than I whether it's true or not.