June 30, 2015

Attorney General George Jepsen today issued the following statement on the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirming the District Court's ruling that Apple, Inc. played a central role in facilitating and executing a conspiracy designed to eliminate retail price competition in order to raise eBook prices:

"Today, the Second Circuit found that the District Court’s decision that Apple orchestrated a conspiracy among publishers to raise eBook prices was amply supported and well-reasoned," said Attorney General Jepsen. "Apple has the right to seek further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, should it see fit to do so. However, pursuant to the settlement agreement we reached with Apple in this case last summer, should the ruling withstand any further effort to appeal, Apple will pay $400 million in compensation to eBook consumers and $50 million in other relief as a result of this ruling. This is in addition to the $166 million in settlement funds that eBook consumers across the country have already received through settlements with the five publishers involved in this price-fixing conspiracy.

"This enforcement action and the settlements that arose from it are representative of my continued commitment to ensuring Connecticut consumers the benefits of an honest, open and competitive marketplace. I'm extremely proud of the work of my staff and of the exemplary cooperation amongst state attorneys general and the Department of Justice that has led to today's ruling."

The litigation and settlement in this case stemmed from a two-year investigation conducted by the Offices of the Connecticut and Texas Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice. Attorney General Jepsen today thanked the Department of Justice, the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the additional participating states for their partnership.

The Attorney General praised his staff team – Assistant Attorneys General Joseph Nielsen, Gary Becker, Richard Porter and Kirsten Rigney; Paralegal Holly MacDonald; and Assistant Attorney General Michael Cole, chief of the Antitrust and Government Program Fraud Department – for their hard work on this case.

 

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