Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon

X

Apple is being sued for allegedly fixing eBook prices, fearing Amazon’s pricing could cripple its iPad sales. Apple, which is the world’s most valuable business, achieved this through its relationships with five dominant publishers.

The defending publishers include HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster, who between the five produce an almost monopolistic 85 per cent of the most popular fiction and non-fiction titles according to ninemsn.

The class action law suit filed in the US District Court claims Apple worked with the five publishers to cripple Amazon’s aggressive eBook pricing, in an effort to help Apple’s iPad steal market share away from Amazon’s Kindle.

“We intend to prove that Apple needed a way to neutralise Amazon’s Kindle before its popularity could challenge the upcoming introduction of the iPad, a device Apple intended to compete as an e-reader,” said Steve Berman, the attorney representing consumers.

Berman is arguing the five publishers forced Amazon to forgo its competitive pricing methodologies and pick up a new agency model. Publishers would set the prices for eBooks, eliminating competition between the two manufacturers, disadvantaging Amazon who offers aggressively cheaper pricing.

“Fortunately for the publishers, they had a co-conspirator as terrified as they were over Amazon’s popularity and pricing structure, and that was Apple,” Berman said.

Amazon would be denied access to eBook titles if it tried to sell eBooks below the publisher predetermined price, according to the complaint.

Of particular concern was Amazon’s US$9.99 uniform bestseller pricing, encouraging competitive pricing from Apple and cutting into its profit margins.

Read: Apple Caught Faking Evidence Against Samsung HERE

The plaintiffs include Anthony Petru and Marcus Matthis. The law suit was filed on August 9th, with firm Hagens Berman posting the complaint on its website.

 

Px7 S3 728x90 1 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
250527 SAV Channel news June25 Leaderboard 728x90 1 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
BEL2535 BPB024 4SQ Banners 728x90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
Uniden Channelnews SoloX July 2024 728x90 1 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
MaxRanger4K Leaderboard 728x90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
FA 979 HN MDF SG14 14gen 728x90 1 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
GOTHAM 728px x 90px Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
Skullcandy 728x90 1 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
BlueAnt 4SQM PumpAirUltra 728x90px Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
Flick of a switch 728x90 1 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
HAIER Series 600 FLW HPD Pairs 728x90 1 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
ChannelNews AZ100 728x90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
JBL TourPro3 728x90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
ELX DIG Crosscat Promo 728x90 Mar25 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
Arlo July Promo Digital 728x90 2 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
728x90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
Hisense KV BannerAd 728 90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
MOTO 36331576 Q3 Ad Banners 728x90 2 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
appliance retailer leaderboard may 728x90 Hitachi updated Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
Westan 728x90px Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
728x90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
AU X8 Banner 728x90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
Marshall 728x90 1 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon
728 x 90 Apple Sued For Fixing Ebook Pricing, Fearing Amazon


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE