Apple Settlement Email

[ProfCrash]

I looked but did not see this posted. Apologies if there is already a discussion.

I received an email from Amazon about the Apple settlement.

https://ebooklawsuits.com/

The URL takes you to the new settlement page. I am including the text of the email below. I don't think it has personal information in it but if it does, please let me know so I can remove it.

Dear Kindle Customer,

We previously emailed you about Settlements between several eBook publishers, State Attorneys General and private plaintiffs. On March 25, 2014, Amazon made credits from the proceeds of those publishers’ Settlements available to eligible customers. You can learn more about those publishers’ Settlements by clicking here.

The Attorneys General and private plaintiffs have now settled similar claims against Apple Inc. The court where those claims are pending has directed us to send the following legal notice to you to advise you of your rights in the Apple Settlement. If you have any questions about this notice, or your legal rights, please visit the E-book Lawsuits website or call the phone number listed at the end of this notice. Amazon’s customer service will not be able to answer questions about your legal rights in the Apple Settlement.

Thanks for being a Kindle customer.

================================================== ========
Legal Notice
Benefits from E-books Settlement with Apple
Para una notificación en Español, llamar o visitar nuestro website.
Records indicate that you are eligible for a payment from a Settlement reached by State Attorneys General and Class Plaintiffs with Apple Inc. (“Apple”). The Apple Settlement resolves Plaintiffs’ claims for money damages against Apple in antitrust lawsuits about the price of electronic books (“E-books”). Amazon has not been sued in these cases. It is providing this notice as a service to its customers.

What the Apple Settlement Provides
The Apple Settlement provides for three possible outcomes, depending on the decision of an appeal of the District Court’s July 10, 2013 finding that Apple violated the antitrust laws (“Liability Finding”). First, if the Court’s Liability Finding is upheld, Apple will pay $400 million to Eligible Consumers. Second, if the Liability Finding is sent back to the District Court for further consideration of whether Apple violated the antitrust laws, Apple will pay $50 million to Eligible Consumers. Third, if the Liability Finding is reversed, Apple will make no payments.

If Apple is required to pay Eligible Consumers under either of the first two options and if the Court approves the Apple Settlement, you will receive an automatic credit to your customer account. The credit can be used for the purchase of products or services sold by Amazon. The amount of your payment, if any, will be determined based on the qualifying E-book purchases identified by Amazon in your customer account.

How to Receive your Benefit
If Apple is required to make a payment to Eligible Consumers, you do not need to do anything to receive your credit unless you change your email address. (If you do change your email address, you should update your Amazon profile or visit www.EbookLawsuits.com and click on the “Update Your Contact Information” link.) Because you are pre-qualified, your credit will be applied to your account by Amazon automatically, and you will receive another email letting you know when it’s available. If you bought E-books from more than one retailer, you may receive other notices with different instructions on how to receive a payment.

If Apple is required to make a payment to Eligible Consumers, you also will have the option to receive a check instead of your credit. You can request a check by calling 1-866-686-9333, or going to the Apple Settlement website listed below, and clicking on the Check Request Option link on or before October 31, 2014. Be sure to reference the Settlement ID number found at the top of this email. Customers who received a check from the earlier E-books settlements do not have to re-submit a check request for the Apple Settlement. However, if your mailing address changes before you receive your check, please visit www.EbookLawsuits.com and click on the “Update Your Contact Information” link to update your mailing address.

Your Other Rights
You can choose to exclude yourself from the Apple Settlement and keep your right to sue Apple on your own. If you exclude yourself, you can’t receive any benefits from the Apple Settlement. Your written Exclusion Form must be postmarked by October 31, 2014.

If you don’t exclude yourself, you can submit objections about the Apple Settlement. Your written objections must be postmarked by October 31, 2014.

Please visit the Apple Settlement website below for detailed information on how to submit a valid Exclusion Form or objection.

The Court will hold a hearing on November 21, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. to consider whether to approve the Apple Settlement. You or your own lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing. The hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so please check the website below for additional information.

For more information:
Call 1-866-686-9333 or Visit www.EbookLawsuits.com

[Jessica Lares]

I got that too. I was puzzled - An e-mail about Apple coming from Amazon.

[ProfCrash]

It is the same as the Publisher settlement. Any settlement money will be distributed to the companies that you bought your books from and they will distribute it to individuals. I was wondering when we would get the Apple settlement email, I figured it was coming but thought that it might wait until after it was determined how much was being paid out.

I think I will ask for the check this time because I want to spend the money on stuff I want and not just books. If it is the $400 million option, I really want the check.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I think I will ask for the check this time because I want to spend the money on stuff I want and not just books. If it is the $400 million option, I really want the check.

If they send you a $400 million check, can I have some of it?

[ProfCrash]

I'll send you some bananas

[wodin]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

I got that too. I was puzzled - An e-mail about Apple coming from Amazon.

Yup me too, I've avoided buying ANYTHING Apple over the years, so I'm not quite sure why Amazon thinks I'm eligible.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by wodin

Yup me too, I've avoided buying ANYTHING Apple over the years, so I'm not quite sure why Amazon thinks I'm eligible.

Have you also avoided buying BWM ebooks?

What does Apple have to do with it?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by wodin

Yup me too, I've avoided buying ANYTHING Apple over the years, so I'm not quite sure why Amazon thinks I'm eligible.

Remember, Apple is paying restitution for their role in the conspiracy that raised BPH ebook prices on consumers from mid 2010 through mid 2013.
The publishers already paid their share, which was distributed through the ebookstores where the books were sold--now it is Apple's turn to pay.

If you bought any ebooks during that time and already received a payment, you are likely due another.

Me, I got $0.62 last time so I might get fifty cents this time.

[Barcey]

Judge Cote had raised concerns with the settlement because if the court reversed her ruling on a minor issue the lawyers would still get $20 million (instead of $50 million) but the consumers would only get $50 million (instead of $400 million). This appears to be a communication so that the lawyers can say, "we asked the consumers and they don't care".

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0FT2WK20140725

If Apple loses its appeal, it would pay $400 million to consumers and $50 million to the states and plaintiffs' lawyers.

In contrast, if Apple's appeal is successful but the 2nd Circuit returns the case to Cote for further proceedings or a new trial, the company would pay just $70 million, with $50 million for consumers. If the 2nd Circuit reversed Cote outright and ended the case, Apple would pay nothing.

On Thursday's call, Cote expressed concern that the middle scenario might be unfair to consumers by undervaluing their claims.

Steve Berman, a lawyer for the consumers, told her that such an outcome would result in a "much bleaker universe" for his clients.

"We thought given that unlikely scenario and the legal risk we would face it would be a good outcome for consumers," he said.

[ProfCrash]

This is the fallout of the collusion law suit. Apple was found guilty of colluding with the Publishers in pushing the Agency Pricing. Apple was right in the middle of the collusion. Instead of settling, Apple went to trial and lost.

The books that you bought from the five publishers are eligible for some level of reimbursement. We all got our pay out from the Publishers settlement this year, Amazon is announcing that the website regarding Apples fines is set up and letting people know that they can do nothing and have the credits applied to their account or submit a request for a check.

BN, Sony, kobo should be sending out similar emails to their customers.

I have decided I want the check this time.

[darryl]

Almost makes me wish I had bought some BWM EBooks during this time! Almost.

[Catlady]

I got an e-mail from BN about this. So the gist is that customers are getting another credit for the same set of book purchases as in the previous settlement? I got payments from BN and Kobo last time, about $25 total, and thought that was the end of it.

[John F]

I received an email from Kobo:

Dear Kobo customer,
This email is to inform you of a Settlement reached by State Attorneys General and Class Plaintiffs with Apple Inc. ("Apple") regarding eBook pricing.

Generally, you are included as an Eligible Consumer in the Settlement if you purchased an eBook from April 1, 2010 to May 21, 2012 published by specific publishers from the Kobo bookstore. Kobo is not involved in the Settlement but is providing this notice to their customers as a service.

As a Kobo customer we will send you follow up service emails if Apple is required to make a payment.

For complete details on the lawsuit, please read the legal notice below or visit
the Apple E-book Lawsuits website at www.EbookLawsuits.com.

Thank you for being a Kobo customer.

The Kobo Team

Benefits from E-books Settlement with Apple

Para una notificación en Español, llamar o visitar nuestro website.
Records indicate that you may be eligible for a payment from a Settlement reached by State Attorneys General and Class Plaintiffs with Apple Inc. ("Apple"). The Apple Settlement resolves Plaintiffs' claims for money damages against Apple in antitrust lawsuits about the price of electronic books ("E-books"). Kobo has not been sued in these cases. It is providing this notice as a service to its customers.
What the Apple Settlement Provides
The Apple Settlement provides for three possible outcomes, depending on the decision of an appeal of the Court’s July 10, 2013 finding that Apple violated the antitrust laws ("Liability Finding"). First, if the Court's Liability Finding is upheld, Apple will pay $400 million to Eligible Consumers. Second, if the Liability Finding is sent back to the District Court for further consideration of whether Apple violated the antitrust laws, Apple will pay $50 million to Eligible Consumers. Third, if the Liability Finding is reversed, Apple will make no payments.

If Apple is required to pay Eligible Consumers under either of the first two options and if the Court approves the Apple Settlement, you will receive an automatic credit to your customer account. The amount of your payment, if any, will be determined based on the qualifying E-book purchases identified by Kobo in your E-reader account.
How to Receive your Benefit
If Apple is required to make a payment to Eligible Consumers, you do not need to do anything at this time to receive your credit unless you change your email address. (If you do change your email address, you should update your Kobo profile or visit www.EbookLawsuits.com and click on the "Update Your Contact Information" link.) If the Court approves the Apple Settlement, you will receive another email letting you know how to activate your credit. Once you activate the credit, it will be applied to your account by Kobo. If you bought E-books from more than one retailer, you may receive other notices with different instructions on how to receive a payment.

If Apple is required to make a payment to Eligible Consumers, you also have the option to receive a check instead of your credit. You can request a check by calling 1-866-686-9333, or going to the Apple Settlement website listed below, and clicking on the Check Request Option link on or before October 31, 2014. Be sure to reference the Settlement ID number found at the top of this email. Customers who received a check from the earlier E-books settlements do not have to re-submit a check request for the Apple Settlement. However, if your mailing address changes before you receive your check, please visit www.EbookLawsuits.com and click on the "Update Your Contact Information" link to update your mailing address.
Your Other Rights
You can choose to exclude yourself from the Apple Settlement and keep your right to sue Apple on your own. If you exclude yourself, you can’t receive any benefits from the Apple Settlement. Your written Exclusion Form must be postmarked by October 31, 2014.

If you don’t exclude yourself, you can submit objections about the Apple Settlement. Your written objections must be postmarked by October 31, 2014.

Please visit the Apple Settlement website below for detailed information on how to submit a valid Exclusion Form or objection.

The Court will hold a hearing on November 21, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. to consider whether to approve the Settlement. You or your own lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing. The hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so please check the website below for additional information.
For more detailed information:
Call 1-866-686-9333 or Visit www.EbookLawsuits.com

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I got an e-mail from BN about this. So the gist is that customers are getting another credit for the same set of book purchases as in the previous settlement? I got payments from BN and Kobo last time, about $25 total, and thought that was the end of it.

Yup. That pay out was from the Publishers who settled. This payout will be from Apple based on their conviction in the same mess. The amount will b determined based on the outcome of Apple's appeal.

So, more money. Potentially a lot more money.

[Joykins]

I got an email from B&N. I may have gotten others but I still haven't mastered my tabbed emails yet.

Anyway, I got $150 in the other settlement, so picture me rubbing my hands together in sweet anticipation.