Apple rightfully lost this case. Apple colluded with the publishers to raise prices for consumers as well as Amazon.
Antitrust laws promote vigorous competition and protect consumers from anticompetitive mergers and business practices (ex. Apple and the publisher's collusion). The FTC's Bureau of Competition, working in tandem with the Bureau of Economics, enforces the antitrust laws for the benefit of consumers.
Who is going to get $400 million of the settlement? The consumers not Amazon.
Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division said the government was gratified with the ruling.
"The decision confirms that it is unlawful for a company to knowingly participate in a price-fixing conspiracy, whatever its specific role in the conspiracy or reason for joining it. Because Apple and the defendant publishers sought to eliminate price competition in the sale of e-books, consumers were forced to pay higher prices for many e-book titles," he said.
News out today that the German government antitrust folks are investigating Apple over a related eBooks issue. The surprise this time is BOTH Apple and Amazon are involved. Why?
Apple buys audiobooks wholesale from, you guessed it. . . [B]Amazon[/B].
News out today that the German government antitrust folks are investigating Apple over a related eBooks issue. The surprise this time is BOTH Apple and Amazon are involved. Why?
Apple buys audiobooks wholesale from, you guessed it. . . Amazon.
Comments
When is Amazon ever going to get probed.?
Could be embarrassing whomever is found up their arse.
Apple rightfully lost this case. Apple colluded with the publishers to raise prices for consumers as well as Amazon.
Antitrust laws promote vigorous competition and protect consumers from anticompetitive mergers and business practices (ex. Apple and the publisher's collusion). The FTC's Bureau of Competition, working in tandem with the Bureau of Economics, enforces the antitrust laws for the benefit of consumers.
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws
Who is going to get $400 million of the settlement? The consumers not Amazon.
Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division said the government was gratified with the ruling.
"The decision confirms that it is unlawful for a company to knowingly participate in a price-fixing conspiracy, whatever its specific role in the conspiracy or reason for joining it. Because Apple and the defendant publishers sought to eliminate price competition in the sale of e-books, consumers were forced to pay higher prices for many e-book titles," he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/30/us/ap-us-electronic-books-antitrust-lawsuit.html
Apple buys audiobooks wholesale from, you guessed it. . . [B]Amazon[/B].
Specifically it's their Audible subsidiary. I didn't even know Amazon owned 'em.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/us-germany-apple-amazon-idUSKCN0T519P20151116#u8zKGFRUBLvxSRoU.97
Based on the tone of the article it would appear Amazon is the bigger target.
Amazon bought Audible in 2008.
Also, if two companies were in collusion, it would be a duopoly, not a monopoly...which it isn't anyway. Another day, another frivolous lawsuit.