US sues Apple and publishers over e-book prices

[Gerald]

Technology giant Apple and major book publishers are being sued by the US Department of Justice over the pricing of e-books.

The US accuses Apple and Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon and Schuster and Penguin of colluding over the prices of e-books they sell.

This lawsuit is over the agency model where publishers set the prices of e-books, rather than sellers.

The lawsuit comes a day after Apple surpassed $600bn (£379bn) in value.

The increase affirmed its position as the world's most valuable firm."To effectuate their conspiracy, the publisher defendants teamed up with defendant Apple, which shared the same goal of restraining retail price competition in the sale of e-books," according to papers filed in New York's Southern District court on Wednesday morning.

"Apple facilitated the publisher defendants' collective effort to end retail price competition by coordinating their transition to an agency model across all retailers."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17681137


Note: 11 April 2012 Last updated at 15:18 GMT

[Gargamel]

Good. Maybe kindle book prices will drop again.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Good. Maybe kindle book prices will drop again.

Aye that.

[TarJak]

Meh. Call me old skool, but e-books don't do a lot for me.

[Garion]

Being a tightfisted Scot I only read the free one's

Cheers

Garion

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Garion

Being a tightfisted Scot I only read the free one's.

I'm not a Scot, but when it comes to real books I buy from charity shops or loan from a library. Only rarely would I pay full price for one. I've toyed with the idea of the e-book, and can see some good things but for the time being I'll stick with paper.

[Gargamel]

The fact that I have the app on my phone and can pick between any of the books I want at will is nice.

[Gerald]

Step in the right direction for consumers,

[Garion]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I'm not a Scot, but when it comes to real books I buy from charity shops or loan from a library. Only rarely would I pay full price for one. I've toyed with the idea of the e-book, and can see some good things but for the time being I'll stick with paper.

I have an extensive library of real books, mostly bought from Charity Shops, Ebay or given as gifts. The wife, 'SHe who must be obeyed' put her foot down though, so I have returned more than few books to the chairty shops.

The remaining volumes are safely locked up in my 'Man Cave' in the back garden

Cheers

Garion

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Garion

The remaining volumes are safely locked up in my 'Man Cave' in the back garden

Sure you didn't mean the dog house