DoJ vs. e-Books/Apple: Anyone else pissed?

[GTaudiophile]

Out of all the things the DoJ could go after in regards to price fixing/collusion, they go after e-Books??? What about cable/tel-co providers? What about wireless providers? Airlines?

As usual, what a waste of tax-payer funds.

 

[Kroze]

How else are they going to rob te rich to give to the poor? By poor I mean corporate exec of big banks

 

[dougp]

It's being discussed over in MD&G - http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2238644

About cable providers, don't they estimate that cable bills will go up to an average of $200 sometime soon?

 

[allisolm]

Perhaps they went after the publishers because there actually was collusion to raise prices. Some of the firms have already settled. Two of them settled with Texas and Connecticut for $52 million.

 

[Anubis]

Perhaps they went after the publishers because there actually was collusion to raise prices. Some of the firms have already settled. Two of them settled with Texas and Connecticut for $52 million.

This, i imagin the outlook does not look good for the others

 

[Juddog]

Personally I think them going after apple had a lot to do with how Apple tried to snatch the ebook market away from Amazon.

Amazon isn't one to sit back and take things lightly, so naturally an ebook war broke out.

With telcos / cable companies, they hold "local monopolies" and drive out competitors through legislation if need be, so I don't think it counts in the eyes of the justice department since it's not a nationwide monopoly.

 

[Dulanic]

Personally I think them going after apple had a lot to do with how Apple tried to snatch the ebook market away from Amazon.

Amazon isn't one to sit back and take things lightly, so naturally an ebook war broke out.

With telcos / cable companies, they hold "local monopolies" and drive out competitors through legislation if need be, so I don't think it counts in the eyes of the justice department since it's not a nationwide monopoly.

^ This. What Apple pulled was bullshit. Amazon was for the consumer where as Apple is all for the big profits at the cost of the customer.

 

[Bignate603]

Why would I be upset that the DoJ is going after a blatant violation of antitrust laws?

 

[Thump553]

This was a pretty clear cut case and involved overnight prices increases once the Apple contracts took effect.

Heck, given how antitrust enforcement has basically disappeared over the last forty years (and we are worse off for it-look at the things OP compalins about) I'm glad they are finally doing something.

 

[CptObvious]

Out of all the things the DoJ could go after in regards to price fixing/collusion, they go after e-Books??? What about cable/tel-co providers? What about wireless providers? Airlines?

As usual, what a waste of tax-payer funds.

I would add consumer electronics as following a trend of price fixing also. Sony, Samsung, Apple, Nikon, Pentax, and others have implemented a unilateral price policy that means the companies can cut off retailers who price their items below a minimum price. The Supreme Court upheld this as legal, but legality aside when the industry as a whole moves toward it consumers end up getting the shaft.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Why would I be upset that the DoJ is going after a blatant violation of antitrust laws?

I guess the only thing is that some people (e.g., the OP) feel that the DoJ should be going after other areas first, like cable/satellite and wireless providers. I think the price fixing among those companies is much worse. But I guess they're going after a case that's easier to prove.

 

[Deeko]

Pissed? Of course I'm not pissed. The book business is huge, why would you discount it as unimportant? It seems pretty clear there was collusion, so they absolutely should be brought to court for it.

 

[foghorn67]

It's a slam dunk case. Apple's PR statements and quotes over the months about this is enough to win the case for the DoJ.

Honestly, Apple is very blatent.

 

[nageov3t]

correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the DoJ employs multiple people and is capable of pursuing more than one investigation at once.

 

[lxskllr]

correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the DoJ employs multiple people and is capable of pursuing more than one investigation at once.

You're wrong. DoJ are peoples names. Debra and Jason handle all the litigation, so they have to choose their battles carefully.

 

[foghorn67]

correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the DoJ employs multiple people and is capable of pursuing more than one investigation at once.

Nope, just one dude.
That's why they call him, The Man.

I think of him as one of those small town sheriffs. But with superpowers.

 

[foghorn67]

You're wrong. DoJ are peoples names. Debra and Jason handle all the litigation, so they have to choose their battles carefully.

damnit, you beat me to it. And yours is better.

 

[destrekor]

I guess the only thing is that some people (e.g., the OP) feel that the DoJ should be going after other areas first, like cable/satellite and wireless providers. I think the price fixing among those companies is much worse. But I guess they're going after a case that's easier to prove.

Yep. Easier to prove, is also a major industry/business, and very easy to fix and help out consumers. And far more shady/illegal from the corporate side of things.

When it comes to the communications industry, there is so much shit wrong, the DoJ can hardly sort it all out in one fell swoop, as the case seems to be for ebooks.

I'd love for the FCC and DoJ to sort out all that is wrong with the communications industry and do something great for the consumer, but it's difficult to really provide examples of illegal activity. They are screwing us over, but for the most part, doing so lawfully. It's one of the many ways we are forcefully penetrated from behind if we wish to be granted access, and basically the government can only say "if you bend over and relax, it won't be as bad." :\

 

[Phokus]

Apple and the book publishers deserve to get hammered over their price fixing scheme, more details here:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/11/2...k-price-fixing-case-against-apple-an-analysis

 

[Phokus]

Also, here's Steve Jobs basically correctly predicting that Amazon would raise their prices to match Apple's at their Ipad unveiling.

http://m.wsj.net/video/20100128/012810atdmossy/012810atdmossy_320k.mp4

@ 1:56

Steve had gigantic balls. I hope Apple gets nailed.

 

[frostedflakes]

Not going to shed a tear for the publishers involved in this suit, many e-book prices are ridiculous. There have been times I've been browsing Amazon for an e-book, and come to find out it's more expensive than the freaking paperback version. I'll just buy the paperback or wait for it to be checked in at the public library or something, I refuse to pay more for something that costs them less solely on principle. Whereas if an e-book is reasonably priced (a buck or two cheaper than the paperback, something like that) I'll be more than willing to buy it.

 

[dainthomas]

Holy thread backfire, batman.

 

[sdifox]

I love how publishers bitched about how printing cost is their biggest cost and raised book prices. Then when it transitioned to e-books they changed their tune.

Let them burn. And Apple too.

 

[lupi]

They did just go after at&t, and no pissed found about this.

 

[jhansman]

The OP is right; the DOJ should have gone after Apple for being a bunch of arrogant assholes. I know, I know-that's not a crime, but still....