[telecom] Apple, publishers face U.S. antitrust lawsuit over e-book pricing

Apple, publishers face U.S. antitrust lawsuit over e-book pricing

By Jim Puzzanghera

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department on Wednesday sued Apple Inc. and five major book publishers for allegedly colluding to fix e-book prices.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in New York, alleges that Apple and the publishers "reached an agreement whereby retail price competition would cease (which all the conspirators desired), retail e-book prices would increase significantly (which the publisher defendants desired) and Apple would be guaranteed a 30% 'commission' on each e-book it sold (which Apple desired)."

The agreement helped drive prices up to avoid retail price competition from Amazon, in violation of antitrust laws, the suit said.

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