Quote:
Originally Posted by Barcey
Actually it's about preserving the publisher's distribution channels and removing competition.
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It is about preserving distribution channels.
However, it is
not about "removing competition." There are no allegations that the publishers illegally coordinated prices, or tried to price smaller publishers out of the market, or tried to shut down Amazon.
If anything, agency pricing actually
facilitates competition between retailers. Every retailer gets the same cut, the same availability, at the same time as every other retailer.
More to the point, if the DoJ is saying there is nothing wrong with agency pricing, then restricting agency pricing doesn't seem to be the appropriate punishment for alleged collusion. Fines and industry supervision are much more appropriate, not barring companies from using legally acceptable pricing structures.