Hooray!
It is about time the evil doers are stopped.
"Judge Quickly Approves Ebook Pricing Settlement; Says It's In The Public Interest To Stop Price Fixing"
from the will-prices-drop? dept
by Mike Masnick
Thu, Sep 6th 2012 12:12pm
techdirt.com
"Judge Denise Cote wasted no time at all in approving the DOJ's settlement with three book publishers in its antitrust lawsuit over ebook pricing. While there had been some concerns about the settlement, the judge saw no problem with it at all, and very quickly issued an order approving the settlement (pdf) between the government and HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette (the case against others, and Apple continues). The terms of the settlement are straightforward:
They must terminate their Agency Agreements with Apple within seven days after entry of the proposed Final Judgment.
They must terminate those contracts with e-book retailers that contain either a) a restriction on the e-book retailer’s ability to set the retail price of any e-book, or b) a “Price MFN,” as defined in the proposed Final Judgment, as soon as each contract permits starting thirty days after entry of the proposed Final Judgment.
For at least two years, they may not agree to any new contract with an e-book retailer that restricts the retailer’s discretion over e-book pricing.
For at least five years, they may not enter into an agreement with an e-book retailer that includes a Price MFN. "
Read more
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