Macmillan Settles

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Barcey

It took 10 months for him to get an estimate of the maximum possible damage figure? Yeh right! That's about as credible as anything else Sargent says.

.

[Duiker]

As long as large companies have the option to 'settle', meaning paying someone off when they break the law they will continue to do so. I don't understand why we have this double standard for breaking the law? No lectures on the differences between criminal and civil law needed, thanks. Now don't get me started on the banks who didn't even face prosecution. Sorry, tangent.

[kennyc]

Well there are often 'plea-bargains' at even minor levels such as with automobile violation cases.

[HomeInMyShoes]

^That's probably the first time I've seen Macmillan and bargain in the same sentence.

[DiapDealer]

ba-dump bump.

[fjtorres]

They need to target Corporate Executives under RICO.
One conviction would change the landscape for antitrust right there. But as long as the likes of Sargent break the law and it is the *company* that is liable he has nothing meaningful to lose by breaking the law.

[kennyc]

I have a much more radical opinion -- they need to outlaw corporations.

[NightBird]

It will be interesting to see what Random House does now, as it is still using the agency model and was not involved in any of the lawsuits. If it continues with this its prices will be the highest.

Also, as stated these agreements are only until the end of 2014. What's going to happen after that? A return to the agency model anyway?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by NightBird

It will be interesting to see what Random House does now, as it is still using the agency model and was not involved in any of the lawsuits. If it continues with this its prices will be the highest.

I'd expect the merger with Penguin will have some bearing on things.

Also, as stated these agreements are only until the end of 2014. What's going to happen after that? A return to the agency model anyway?

Well, they have their Agency data now so it will probably depend on which ends up giving them better profits.

[NightBird]

I see Penguin merging with Random House as hiding behind their skirts; in other words, if Random House decides to continue with the agency model, Penguin will be able to do so, too.

If they all go back to the agency model in 2015 we will be right back in it, and nothing will have changed. Also, they went into knowing they were losing money per book (being paid less by the retailers). I don't see how they could have made more money with it, although Random House claims this was its motive for changing to the agency model after watching how things were going for the others for a year.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by NightBird

I see Penguin merging with Random House as hiding behind their skirts; in other words, if Random House decides to continue with the agency model, Penguin will be able to do so, too.

IIRC I read something that said the merged company would be bound by the rules of the settlement, of course who knows how long the merger will take, the agreement could be up by then.

[NightBird]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

IIRC I read something that said the merged company would be bound by the rules of the settlement, of course who knows how long the merger will take, the agreement could be up by then.

Ah - makes sense.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

IIRC I read something that said the merged company would be bound by the rules of the settlement, of course who knows how long the merger will take, the agreement could be up by then.

It's been reported in the media that RH will abandon Agency pricing with the merger. I don't know when that will be completed, though.

[NightBird]

It looks like they will have to:

“The department is currently reviewing the proposed joint venture announced by Penguin and Random House Inc., the largest U.S. book publisher. Should the proposed joint venture proceed to consummation, the terms of Penguin’s settlement will apply to it,” the DoJ said in its press release. Until the merger is approved and finalized, Random House, which was not involved in the DoJ suit, is free to continue to sell its e-books under the agency agreement. According to court documents, once the merger is completed, Penguin Random House will have 30 days to meet the obligations agreed to by Penguin

Penguin Settles with DoJ; Terms Will Apply to Merged Company

[rogue_librarian]

So does that mean that their titles will (soon) be eligible for discounts and rebates as well? Booksonboard keeps sending me coupons for "eligible" books, and I also have a few "reward dollars" to spend, but so far the books I was interested in were all of the "fixed price" variety.