E-Book Publishers Working to Settle States’ Antitrust Claims
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Three publishers that settled U.S. Justice Department claims they conspired with Apple Inc. to fix the prices of electronic books are working to resolve related state claims, their lawyers told a judge in New York.
Attorneys for Lagardere SCA’s Hachette Book Group and News Corp.’s HarperCollins told U.S. District Judge Denise Cote that they have signed a memorandum of understanding with 15 states and Puerto Rico to settle claims they conspired to fix prices for digital books. They hope to have a settlement with all 50 states completed by June 11, Shepard Goldfein, a HarperCollins lawyer, told Cote in a hearing today.