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US: Apple to face class action suits for eBooks price-fixing

By  |  March 30, 2014

US District Judge Denise Cote ruled Friday to grant class certification to consumers suing Apple for its alleged role in fixing eBooks prices with major publishers, according to reports.

Judge Cote described the lawsuit as a “paradigmatic antitrust class action” as she scheduled a trial to begin later this year. Reports say Apple could be forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

The lawsuit stems from the government’s case against the tech giant after settling with major eBooks publishers. Judge Cote sided with the US Department of Justice in a separate case last summer, ultimately finding Apple guilty of colluding to manipulate eBooks prices.

While Apple is appealing the ruling, states are now taking on their own legal action against the company. Now, the company is facing a class action as well as consumers are seeking more than $800 million in damages, reports say.

Full Content: Reuters

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