Interestingly, a report from The Wall Street Journal, which is owned by the HarperCollins’ parent company News Corp, suggested Apple was only ever trying to continue its App Store business model. The Wall Street Journal’s L. Gordon Crovitz described visiting Senior Apple Executive Eddy Cue to discuss changing Apple’s policies for publications. He quoted Cue as comparing book pricing to apps and not wanting to treat publications differently than app developers:
As Crovitz pointed out, Cue’s quote and philosophy on book pricing “should be the defense’s Exhibit A” when Apple and the two publishers finally land in court with the Department of Justice. In other words, the 30 percent revenue model is Apple’s “standard practice,” not the result of collusion as the Department of Justice alleged.
It appears that many in the industry would agree with Cue and Crovitz. Apple told the Department of Justice in its refusal to settle, “Just as we’ve allowed developers to set prices on the App Store, publishers set prices on the iBookstore.”
Novelist and President of the Authors Guild Scott Turow is taking Apple’s side:
- DOJ explains settlement with three publishers, Macmillan CEO explains why they won’t settle (9to5mac.com)
- Apple finally comments on DOJ antitrust charges: ‘We’re breaking monopolies not starting them’ (9to5mac.com)
- US government sues Apple in eBook price-fixing antitrust suit (9to5mac.com)
- Report: DOJ to sue Apple this week over fixed eBook pricing allegation (9to5mac.com)
- Apple eBook price-fixing lawsuits hit Canada following DOJ suit (9to5mac.com)
