Ebook Price Fixing Case Headed to Trial in June, 2013, Apple Under More Scrutiny by DOJ

Posted on June 23, 2012

Bloomberg reports that a trial date has been set in the ebook price fixing case against Apple and major book publishers by the U.S. Justice Department, fifteen U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Simon & Schuster, Hachette and HarperCollins settled out of court, but Apple, Macmillan and Penguin are going to trial on June 3, 2013.

U.S. District Judge Denise Cote is hearing the case which is set in Manhattan. It will be a bench trial; there will be no jury. Judge Cotes said Friday, "Several parties, Apple and DOJ are pushing for a fast trial as fast as can be accomplished that is consistent with justice."

In the meantime, the Department of Justice is looking into possible antitrust violations in the health care and auto parts industries. The DOJ believes those industries have engaged in illegal price-fixing agreements. The DOJ is also looking at Apple's music sales and iPad sales to see if it has violated antitrust laws.