12 Apr 2012

e-book prices subject of lawsuit

8:33 am on 12 April 2012

Apple and major book publishers are being sued by the US Department of Justice over the pricing of e-books.

The department accuses Apple and five major publishers, including HarperCollins and Penguin, of colluding over the prices of e-books they sell.

The lawsuit relates to a move by the companies to an agency model where publishers, rather than retailers, set the prices.

Attorney General Eric Holder said the federal government believes consumers paid millions of dollars more for some of the most popular titles.

Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon and Schuster have already settled.

European regulators are also looking into the issue.