Apple, publishers offer EU e-book antitrust concessions

Top100EbooksRank · 08-31-2012, 07:41 AM

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...87U0FV20120831

Quote:

(Reuters) - Apple and four major publishers will allow retailers such as Amazon to sell e-books at a discount for two years in a bid to end an EU antitrust investigation and stave off possible fines, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday

what will happen after 2 years?

fix pricing again?

HarryT · 08-31-2012, 07:47 AM

Perhaps the 2 years is to allow time for proper renegotiation of contracts.

petrucci · 08-31-2012, 08:05 AM

I hope that they follow through with the antitrust investigation, as the proposed actions do not serve to rectify the price fixing that they have already committed.

These publishers are truly vile. The move to e-books has allowed them to make bigger profits than ever, and yet they are so greedy they feel the need to price fix.

HarryT · 08-31-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrucci

I hope that they follow through with the antitrust investigation, as the proposed actions do not serve to rectify the price fixing that they have already committed.

These publishers are truly vile. The move to e-books has allowed them to make bigger profits than ever, and yet they are so greedy they feel the need to price fix.

Price fixing is not a crime. Forming a cartel to fix prices is, though. There's nothing inherently wrong about fixed prices: many EU countries have fixed prices for books, and that's a government policy which has nothing to do with publishers.

holymadness · 08-31-2012, 10:17 AM

If this isn't an admission of guilt, nothing is.

It will be interesting to see how Apple responds to the world of non-agency book pricing. Apple has no interest in the retail business of buying in bulk and setting prices for individual items. Agency is perfect for them: no work required, just 30% off the top. How does the iBookstore continue to function in a world where Amazon is continually adjusting prices and organizing sales? Does Apple even want a team devoted to negotiating purchases with publishers and responding to market fluctuations in ebook pricing?

HarryT · 08-31-2012, 10:19 AM

Does Apple care? The iBookstore must be small change to them. If people buy iPads and read using the Kindle app, Apple still win.

holymadness · 08-31-2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Does Apple care? The iBookstore must be small change to them. If people buy iPads and read using the Kindle app, Apple still win.

Hard to say. Content is still a big business; iTunes is worth about $6B/year. Most of that is apps and music, but those are the very things that created the success of the iPhone and the iPod.

I expect that in no more than 20 years nearly 100% of publishing will be digital, so I think it would be short-sighted to leave that market entirely to one's competitors. It's also risky to bet that competitors' platforms will always be available on Apple Devices, especially considering the stringent terms Apple imposes on in-app purchases.

kennyc · 08-31-2012, 06:52 PM

From Ars technica:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/08...in-europe-too/

Top100EbooksRank · 09-03-2012, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Perhaps the 2 years is to allow time for proper renegotiation of contracts.

Then it's best if the contracts are not all up at the same time.

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08-31-2012, 07:47 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Perhaps the 2 years is to allow time for proper renegotiation of contracts.

08-31-2012, 08:05 AM	#3
petrucci Groupie Posts: 198 Karma: 1647827 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I hope that they follow through with the antitrust investigation, as the proposed actions do not serve to rectify the price fixing that they have already committed. These publishers are truly vile. The move to e-books has allowed them to make bigger profits than ever, and yet they are so greedy they feel the need to price fix.

08-31-2012, 10:17 AM	#5
holymadness Guru Posts: 722 Karma: 2084955 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: iPhone	If this isn't an admission of guilt, nothing is. It will be interesting to see how Apple responds to the world of non-agency book pricing. Apple has no interest in the retail business of buying in bulk and setting prices for individual items. Agency is perfect for them: no work required, just 30% off the top. How does the iBookstore continue to function in a world where Amazon is continually adjusting prices and organizing sales? Does Apple even want a team devoted to negotiating purchases with publishers and responding to market fluctuations in ebook pricing?

08-31-2012, 10:19 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Does Apple care? The iBookstore must be small change to them. If people buy iPads and read using the Kindle app, Apple still win.

08-31-2012, 06:52 PM	#8
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	From Ars technica: http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/08...in-europe-too/

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