Fire Alarm Companies

It took some time to read the writing on the wall, but Macmillan has finally solved the antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice alleged price fixing by publishers of electronic books. Thus, Hachette joins Macmillan, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Penguin in choosing not to go to trial against the lawyers of the Department of Justice. This is a radical change of Macmillan position in the negotiations of the agreement, claiming that the mandate of the Ministry of Justice were too onerous.

Why just now? CEO John Sargent said

Wall Street Journal that the company has changed its tune, not because he was guilty, but "because of possible sanctions is become too high to risk even the possibility of an unfavorable outcome. "When the terms of the agreement approved by the court, may not retailers Macmillan titles, regardless of existing contracts for 23 months, from December 18, 2012. Macmillan With bow out, Apple is the only legal adversary of Uncle Sam in the trial scheduled for June given the unconditional refusal Apple counterfeiting and general willingness to sue, it seems that perhaps some legal fireworks this summer.

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