Supreme Court rejects Apple e-books price-fixing appeal
Source: Reuters
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Apple Inc's challenge to an appellate court decision that it conspired with five publishers to increase e-book prices, meaning it will have to pay $450 million as part of a settlement.
The court's decision not to hear the case leaves in place a June 2015 ruling by the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that favored the U.S. Department of Justice and found Apple (AAPL.O) liable for engaging in a conspiracy that violated federal antitrust laws.
Apple, in its petition asking the high court to hear the case, said the June decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upholding a judge's ruling that Apple had conspired with the publishers contradicted Supreme Court precedent and would "chill innovation and risk-taking."
The 2nd Circuit's ruling followed a 2013 decision by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote after a non-jury trial that Apple played a "central role" in a conspiracy with publishers to eliminate retail price competition and raise e-book prices.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-ebooks-idUSKCN0W91LQ
onehandle
(51,122 posts)phazed0
(745 posts)Amazon wasn't the one fixing prices, Apple was.
Was that "Amazon" or "Apple" that conspired together?
The publishers also agreed they would charge all outlets the same amount, meaning Amazon was forced to raise its prices. E-books that had cost $9.99 suddenly cost $12.99 or $14.99.
Oh great, the entirety of the extra 30% goes right to Apple, while others do not get a commission.
Seems like Apple's "monopoly" lost.
It was a no-brainer decision, given the outright collusion between Apple and the publishers.