E-Book Lawsuit Against Apple and Five Publishers

Attorney General Eric Holder and Acting Assistant Attorney General Sharis A. Pozen announce a settlement with three book publishers and continued litigation against Apple and two other publishers to restore price competition. €œAs a result of this alleged conspiracy, we believe that consumers paid millions of dollars more for some of the most popular titles. We allege that executives at the highest levels of these companies-concerned that e-book sellers had reduced prices-worked together to eliminate competition among stores selling e-books, ultimately increasing prices for consumers.

Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division Sharis A. Pozen, joined by Attorney General Eric Holder and Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, provides statements from the department's complaint and details of the proposed settlement. €œWe believe the proposed settlement involving the three publishers-Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster-will begin to undo the harm caused by the companies’ anticompetitive conduct, and will restore price competition so that consumers can pay lower prices for their e-books.

Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen announces the state's lawsuit filed jointly with 15 other states against Apple and three e-book publishers and a proposed settlement with two other publishers at the press conference with Attorney General Eric Ho €œMake no mistake, publishers deserve to make money, but consumers also deserve the benefits of competition in an open and unrestricted marketplace. Those interests clearly collided in this case, and we are working to ensure that the e-book market is open once again to fair competition.

Attorney General Eric Holder, Acting Assistant Attorney General Sharis A. Pozen and Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen take questions on the e-books lawsuit. â€With competition comes innovation and comes flourishing markets and choices for consumers.