Apple reaches settlement with states and consumers over ebook price-fixing

Apple has reached a settlement with US states and consumers seeking damages over its ebook price-fixing, reports Joel Rosenblatt on Bloomberg.

The settlement means the company will avoid a trial in which it faced ‘as much as [US]$840 million [A$897 million] in claims’. The damages trial had been set to begin on 14 July.

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, US judge Denise Cote found in 2013 that Apple had conspired with publishers to raise the retail prices of ebooks.

Steve Berman, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, told Bloomberg that all the US attorneys general and consumers settled the case. However, Bloomberg reports that, according to the filing, Apple will continue its appeal of Cote’s original ruling.

Apple and its adversaries have been ordered by a US federal judge to submit a filing seeking approval of their accord within one month, reported Bloomberg. However, details of the agreement weren’t disclosed.

Category: Local news