Additional Resources Department Links Appellate Civil Criminal Consumer Protection Medical Fraud Control Unit Division of Criminal Investigation Employment Opportunities John R Justice Program Attorney General Biography Media Press Releases Publications Official Opinions Criminal Justice Directory Technology Contacts DCI History Federal District Court Holds Apple Inc. Responsible for E-Book Price Fixing PIERRE, S.D - Attorney General Marty Jackley today announced the U.S. District Court of New York has found that Apple Inc. did participate in a price-fixing scheme which violated United States and State anti-trust laws. The multistate antitrust investigation, which spanned over several years, alleged that Apple Inc. and five other publishers violated anti-trust laws by price-fixing and collusion in the electronic book (E-book) market. The Department of Justice and 33 States including South Dakota filed suit on April 11, 2012. The case was tried June 3-20, 2013.“South Dakota was one of the original States challenging the E-Book price-fixing that resulted in consumers paying elevated prices for E-Book purchases,” said Jackley. “Today’s ruling will further restore competition in the E-Book market and return confidence in consumer spending.”South Dakota along with other states have previously settled with five other publishers: Hachette Book Group Inc., HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C., Simon & Schuster Inc., Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC d/b/a Macmillan, and Penguin Group for allegations relating to the same conduct. Consumers nationwide received $164 million in compensation as a result of the settlements with the five publishers, South Dakotans receiving approximately $398,000. Additional damages to be paid to South Dakota consumers as a result of today’s ruling have not yet been determined by the Court.
Federal District Court Holds Apple Inc. Responsible for E-Book Price Fixing PIERRE, S.D - Attorney General Marty Jackley today announced the U.S. District Court of New York has found that Apple Inc. did participate in a price-fixing scheme which violated United States and State anti-trust laws. The multistate antitrust investigation, which spanned over several years, alleged that Apple Inc. and five other publishers violated anti-trust laws by price-fixing and collusion in the electronic book (E-book) market. The Department of Justice and 33 States including South Dakota filed suit on April 11, 2012. The case was tried June 3-20, 2013.“South Dakota was one of the original States challenging the E-Book price-fixing that resulted in consumers paying elevated prices for E-Book purchases,” said Jackley. “Today’s ruling will further restore competition in the E-Book market and return confidence in consumer spending.”South Dakota along with other states have previously settled with five other publishers: Hachette Book Group Inc., HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C., Simon & Schuster Inc., Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC d/b/a Macmillan, and Penguin Group for allegations relating to the same conduct. Consumers nationwide received $164 million in compensation as a result of the settlements with the five publishers, South Dakotans receiving approximately $398,000. Additional damages to be paid to South Dakota consumers as a result of today’s ruling have not yet been determined by the Court.
