Price Fixing Settlement
After accusations of eBook price fixing, three publishers settled with the Department of Justice on Wednesday. The New York Times reports that the DOJ filed suit against five publishing houses and Apple, but promptly settled with HarperCollins, Hachette, and Simon & Schuster. The settlement means retailers can once again discount eBooks; Amazon immediately announced it would lower eBook prices. Apple, Macmillan, and Penguin remain respondents in the lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan.
Also on Wednesday, 16 US states and territories filed suit against Apple, Macmillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster. HarperCollins and Hachette are likely to settle, according to The Wall Street Journal. Restitution could be provided to eBook purchasers residing in those states/territories, which are Connecticut, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and West Virginia.
