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Judge Rules Apple Colluded With Publishers to Fix Ebook Prices
Despite many publishers themselves settling with the DOJ over allegations of price fixing ebooks, Apple held firm and recently went to trial. And now the verdict is in: Apple conspired with major publishers to control ebook prices in violation of anti-trust laws. A trial for damages has been ordered. Quoting Reuters: "The decision by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan is a victory for the U.S. government and various states, which the judge said are entitled to injunctive relief. ... Cote said the conspiracy resulted in prices for some e-books rising to $12.99 or $14.99, when Amazon had sold for $9.99. 'The plaintiffs have shown that the publisher defendants conspired with each other to eliminate retail price competition in order to raise e-book prices, and that Apple played a central role in facilitating and executing that conspiracy,' Cote said. 'Without Apple's orchestration of this conspiracy, it would not have succeeded as it did in the spring of 2010,' she added."
Update: 07/10 16:36 GMT by U L : The ruling is now available (160 page PDF).
This is 100% true. I don't think I've ever seen a Judge say something like this one did. Seem 100% guarantee of a new trial upon apeal.
Apple wanted to take over the publishing biz the same way they took over the music biz but with their snobby hardware attitude. Marketing elite feelings to people who buy Macs is one thing.
Trying to raise the price of everything in the marketplace isn't just elitist attitude, it is illegal, and also anti-Adam Smith.
Apple should have known they could sell more books if they sold them cheaper (just like mp3s) but since many execs write books, they have that same elitist attitude NY Times folks have, thinking they set the standard when the real standard for American popular 'news' writing is the National Enquirer.