The European Commission and the US Department of Justice have begun investigations into the agency pricing model employed by ebook publishers on digital platforms like Apple's iBooks. The question to be answered is whether that system represents a form of price fixing and runs counter to competition laws in the two big jurisdictions.Keep track of the investigators' findings and other developments right here.
Apple settles $840 million ebooks price-fixing claim
Payment depends on outcome of appeal
Means, motive, and opportunity: why antitrust lawyers smacked down Apple's iBookstore
It's not about cost, it's about conspiracy
Apple tries putting Amazon on trial in ebooks antitrust case
The defense wants to show that Amazon was the company to be feared in ebooks
Apple ebooks trial: Amazon 'yelled ... and threatened' when publishers tried to control prices
Cupertino's lawyers say Amazon considered agency model before publishers started pushing retailers that way
Apple exec in ebooks antitrust case testifies fairness is why he 'loves' the company
DOJ aims to discredit Apple's claims that it didn't try to prevent Amazon from discounting ebooks
Apple lawyers put judge in ebook antitrust case on defensive
Trial started this morning to determine whether Apple conspired with publishers to fix ebook prices
Amazon details ebook price-fixing refund policy, will give up to $1.32 per book
Refunds won't be released until February 2013 at earliest
Apple and four publishers agree to terminate 'agency' sales model in Europe
Apple and four major book publishers have agreed to terminate their existing agreement for selling ebooks at higher prices, thanks to a European Union antitrust investigation.
Amazon offering discounted HarperCollins ebooks following price fixing settlement
Following a settlement approval last week, Amazon is now offering discounts on a number of HarperCollins ebooks.
Federal judge approves settlement offer in ebook price fixing case
The settlement offer by three of the five publishers accused of price fixing e-books has been approved by a federal judge.
Apple and publishers offer retailers discounted ebooks in bid to avoid EU antitrust fine
Apple and four major European publishers are offering to sell ebooks at a discount in an attempt to end an EU antitrust investigation into price-fixing.
Ebook publishers agree to $69 million settlement in state price-fixing lawsuit
Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster were quick to strike settlements in state antitrust lawsuits brought earlier this year over alleged e-book price fixing. Now, the two sides have settled on a payout, as well, with the publishers agreeing to pay a total of $69 million to consumers across 49 states and five US territories.
Department of Justice defends original price fixing settlement, calls Apple and publisher comments 'self-serving'
The Department of Justice has said it will move forward with its price fixing case as planned after taking comments from a number of parties, some of which it characterized as "self-serving" in their defense.
Barnes & Noble objects to proposed DOJ ebook settlement, credits agency model for saving industry
Barnes & Noble has filed a comment with the US Department of Justice objecting to the government's proposed settlement with Apple and a number of book publishers.
Penguin and Macmillan 'flatly deny' ebook price-fixing claims in court filings
Publishers Macmillan and Penguin have filed rebuttals of the US Department of Justice's case against them, denying that they colluded with Apple to fix ebook prices.
Apple filing claims that the DOJ's ebook lawsuit 'sides with monopoly, rather than competition'
Just as it did in public statements, Apple's taking a strong stance in its defense against alleged price-fixing actions in concert with major ebook publishers. In US District Court filing yesterday, Apple claimed that "the Government's Complaint against Apple is fundamentally flawed as a matter of fact and law."
Simon & Schuster reaches settlement in state ebook price-fixing lawsuit
Book publisher Simon & Schuster has successfully settled a state lawsuit over alleged ebook price fixing.
Steve Jobs wanted publishers to 'throw in with Apple' to create '$12.99 and $14.99' ebook market
As more US states join the class action suit against Apple and major publishers over ebook pricing, new details have emerged in an amended complaint, including a previously redacted email showing that Steve Jobs stepped in directly to help along negotiations.
Did Apple's ebook sales model help lower costs for consumers by attacking Amazon?
The Wall Street Journal claims that agreements between Apple and publishers to raise ebook prices are actually a competitive attempt to break Amazon's hold on the industry, and that they may have led to better prices for customers.
Apple eager to go to trial in ebook price-fixing lawsuit; three publishers settling state litigation
Apple and two book publishers signaled that they are eager to go to trial to prove their innocence, even as the three other publishers accused in the Department of Justice's ebook price-fixing lawsuit moved forward with plans to settle separate suits from individual US states.
Apple says ebook price fixing charges are 'simply not true,' that iBookstore broke 'Amazon's monopolistic grip'
Apple has responded to ebook price fixing allegations.
Macmillan and Penguin: we've 'done no wrong,' DOJ may allow Amazon to 'recover the monopoly position' (update)
Macmillan CEO John Sargent has spoken out in the wake of the DOJ's ebook antitrust suit, stating that the company has done nothing wrong and that the decision to move to the agency model was his alone. Penguin Chairman John Makinson released a similar statement, while also saying the DOJ's complaint contained inaccuracies.
Inside the DOJ's ebook price-fixing case against Apple: an analysis
We just got our hands on the DOJ's antitrust complaint against Apple and seven major publishers, including HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, and Macmillan, and it's rather something: the government alleges that the publishing industry openly colluded to raise ebook prices and end Amazon's dominance, and that Apple was a willing participant in the scheme.
US sues Apple and publishers over ebook pricing, three publishers settle quickly (update)
Bloomberg is reporting that the US has filed an antitrust suit against Apple and Hachette — confirming reports that the US Department of Justice would pursue the companies over ebook pricing.
DOJ poised to sue Apple over ebook price fixing: Reuters
Reuters is reporting that the US Department of Justice may sue Apple as soon as this Wednesday over allegations that the company was involved in an ebook price-fixing arrangement with five other major publishers of digital reading content.
Ebook publishers anxious to settle antitrust probes as market booms
The Wall Street Journal reports that of the five publishers accused of price fixing of ebooks, three are inclined to settle. Meanwhile, research suggests that ebook adoption in the US is grown.
Apple and publishers reportedly near DOJ settlement over ebook pricing
Reuters is reporting that the Department of Justice has been having successful talks with Apple and five different book publishers over price-fixing allegations in ebooks, and may be nearing a settlement agreement.
Authors Guild President opposes DOJ lawsuit, paints Amazon's ebook monopoly as bigger threat
Authors Guild President Scott Turow published an open letter and an editorial in Bloomberg urging the Department of Justice to reconsider its potential antitrust lawsuit against Apple and various book publishers. Turow claims that Amazon's prior monopoly on the industry was much worse.
Apple defends itself over ebook price fixing allegations
Apple has defended itself over allegations of ebook price fixing by arguing that the publishers set the price on titles in its iBookstore.
US DOJ warns publishers, Apple that lawsuits are coming over ebook price fixing
The US Department of Justice's investigation into possible price fixing in the ebook space may soon turn into lawsuits. The Wall Street Journal reports that the DOJ has warned Apple and five major publishers that it will sue them for working together to raise the price of ebooks both on consumers and competitors like Amazon.
US Justice Department also investigating Apple and others for ebook price fixing
The US Department of Justice has joined the European Commission and confirmed that it's investigating Apple and publishers for ebook price fixing.
European Commission investigating collusion among ebook sellers, Apple's involvement
The European Commission has this morning announced that it is opening formal proceedings to investigate the sale of ebooks across the EU. Together with the British Office of Fair Trading, the Commission has already been taking an interest in the way digital books have been priced by publishers, and now that's been escalated to a fully fledged antitrust probe
