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Updated eBook complaint reveals publishers held deep fear of Amazon pricing

By  |  January 22, 2012

The complaint in the eBook price-fixing case alleges that five major publishers conspired with Apple because of an intense fear of Amazon’s consumer-friendly pricing model. According to the complaint, the defendants forced Amazon to adopt a model where publishers set prices directly.

Hagens Berman, representing consumers in the class-action lawsuit, quotes statements made by executives at Hatchett and Macmillan. Information derived from Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs was also used to bolster the case against Apple.

Apple’s five co-defendants and alleged co-conspirators are HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group Inc., and Simon & Schuster Inc.

Read more on the additional information added to the complaint here.