Thread: OFT launches investigations into ebook agency pricing
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Old 02-02-2011, 09:38 PM   #25
Kali Yuga
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc View Post
You've got a totally different definition of monopoly than I have then: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly
Uh.... Read the first line from the article you cited. A monopoly has "sufficient control over a particular product or service to determine significantly the terms on which other individuals shall have access to it."

For years, Apple specified the price (99¢ per track), the format (protected AAC), the software the tracks can be played on (iTunes), the portable devices it was compatible with (iPods), who they wanted to spotlight, and after initially cajoling the recording business, pretty much bullied them around. They've even faced anti-trust probes, over things like pushing labels to kill Amazon's "MP3 Daily Deal."


Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
I don't think Apple controls the price which is the determining characteristic of a monopoly.
"Controlling price" is not necessarily the defining aspect of a monopoly.

That said, yes Apple has exerted strict controls over the prices of digital music in iTunes. For years they locked the (US) price in at 99¢. Currently they allow some latitude, running from 69¢ (set minimum) to $1.29 per song (set maximum).

You DO realize that I'm specifically talking about music and not ebooks, right...?
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