Judge Denies Apple’s Plea In DoJ’s Antitrust E-Book Ruling, Could Mean No More iBookstore

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iBook on iPad

In the ongoing antitrust case regarding e-book price fixing, the presiding judge has denied Apple’s plea for mercy over the Department of Justice’s ruling proposal. The DoJ found Apple guilty of conspiring with publishers to raise prices on e-books with the iBookstore, and Apple continues to plead not guilty despite the fact that all of the publishers have settled outside of court.

What will likely happen next is the DoJ’s proposal will go into effect, and that means Apple will have to shut down the iBookstore for a number of years and allow App Store users to purchase e-books through third-party apps like Kindle.

The publishers involved in the case have said that forcing Apple out of the e-books market will hurt the entire industry, and Apple called the DoJ’s stance “draconian” and “punitive.” Apple could get some of the harsher terms in the proposal amended, but things are not looking good at all.

Source: AP

Image: Bloomberg

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