Apple has filed papers this week to appeal a ruling from last year that found the company guilty of cooperating with others to fix ebook pricing. The formal appeal was filed with the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals and asks for one of two outcomes: that the initial ruling be overturned, or that a new a trial be granted.
Last year US District Court Judge Denise Cote found Apple guilty of collusion as part of an antitrust suit, concluding that Apple worked with book publishers in an effort to raise the price of ebooks. Apple argues that the ruling “‘is a radical departure’ from modern antitrust law that will ‘chill competition and harm consumers,’” according to an Associated Press report.
In Apple’s view, their participation in the sale of ebooks actually had the opposite effect of what is claimed, spurring competition and lower pricing for electronically distributed texts. Meanwhile, a court-appointed monitor has been tasked to make sure Apple complies with current antitrust law. Apple has sought to have the monitor, Michael Bromwich, suspended while the appeals court process plays out, but a panel of judges earlier this month decided to allow monitoring to continue.
Apple sells ebooks via its iBooks application and store, offering over 2 million books and other publications. iBooks was introduced in 2010, the year in which it was claim that antitrust collusion occurred.
[via AP]
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