Apple would need to pay for an external monitor, sever deals with publishers, and let Amazon and Barnes & Noble link their iOS e-book apps to their respective online stores, among other proposed measures.
August 2, 2013 6:59 AM PDT
Following a court decision last month that Apple conspired to fix prices of digital books, the Department of Justice on Friday proposed measures to cease Apple's illegal conduct and to prevent the computing giant from "from conspiring to thwart competition in the future."
The measures are still subject to court approval and may not be adopted in full.
[h=3]Related stories[/h]
Among the measures, Apple would need to let other e-book retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble provide links to their respective e-bookstores from their iOS apps, "allowing consumers who purchase and read e-books on their iPads and iPhones easily to compare Apple's prices with those of its competitors."
The move would be a win for Apple's competitors, making it easier for consumers to buy books from it on something like an iPad.
Other the measures proposed by the department to the court, Apple would need to end its agreements with five major publishers linked to the conspiracy and refrain for five years from entering new e-book distribution contracts which would restrain Apple from competing on price. It couldn't funnel information among the conspiring publishers or retaliate against them for refusing to sell e-books on agency terms.
The department asked for an external monitor, paid for by Apple, that watches to the company's Apple's internal antitrust compliance policies.
The proposed remedies are in line with what the Department of Justice has said it would ask for.
Last month in a quick decision, a judge in the Southern District of New York ruled that Apple conspired to fix e-books prices, handing the U.S. government a major win.
CNET will update as it learns more.
August 2, 2013 6:59 AM PDT
Following a court decision last month that Apple conspired to fix prices of digital books, the Department of Justice on Friday proposed measures to cease Apple's illegal conduct and to prevent the computing giant from "from conspiring to thwart competition in the future."
The measures are still subject to court approval and may not be adopted in full.
[h=3]Related stories[/h]
- Penguin finally settles with EU over e-book pricing
- Google goes after Apple in tablet education
- Inkling inks new publisher deals, $16M funding
- Amazon in its prime? Share price passes $300
Among the measures, Apple would need to let other e-book retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble provide links to their respective e-bookstores from their iOS apps, "allowing consumers who purchase and read e-books on their iPads and iPhones easily to compare Apple's prices with those of its competitors."
The move would be a win for Apple's competitors, making it easier for consumers to buy books from it on something like an iPad.
Other the measures proposed by the department to the court, Apple would need to end its agreements with five major publishers linked to the conspiracy and refrain for five years from entering new e-book distribution contracts which would restrain Apple from competing on price. It couldn't funnel information among the conspiring publishers or retaliate against them for refusing to sell e-books on agency terms.
The department asked for an external monitor, paid for by Apple, that watches to the company's Apple's internal antitrust compliance policies.
The proposed remedies are in line with what the Department of Justice has said it would ask for.
Last month in a quick decision, a judge in the Southern District of New York ruled that Apple conspired to fix e-books prices, handing the U.S. government a major win.
CNET will update as it learns more.