US judge approves $5.47m settlement between Harlequin and authors over ebook royalties

In the US, a judge has granted final approval to a US$4.1m (A$5.47) class action settlement between Harlequin and authors alleging the publisher made improper ebook royalty payments, reports Publishers Weekly. Under the settlement the authors will be paid just over US$3m (A$4m), with the rest of the settlement fund going to attorney fees and other costs. Harlequin did not admit to any wrongdoing. Three Harlequin authors, Barbara Keiler, Mona Gay Thomas and Linda Barrett first filed the suit in 2012, alleging that Harlequin authors’ ebook royalties were improperly calculated from a licensing clause in their original contract agreements. Liability for the suit remained with Harlequin’s previous ownership after HarperCollins announced its acquisition of Harlequin in March 2014.

Category: International news