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Apple guilty of e-books price fixing, judge rules Apple conspired to fix e-book prices, judge rules
(35 minutes later)
A US judge has found Apple guilty of conspiring with publishers to fix the price of electronic books. Apple conspired with publishers to fix the price of electronic books, a US judge has ruled.
Manhattan Judge Denise Cote said the iPad maker "conspired to restrain trade".Manhattan Judge Denise Cote said the iPad maker "conspired to restrain trade".
Five publishers originally named as defendants alongside Apple have already reached settlements, including Penguin. But the company's spokesman Tom Neumayr said Apple would appeal against the ruling and fight "false allegations".
Five publishers that were originally named as defendants alongside Apple have already reached settlements, including Penguin.
The judge ordered a new hearing to determine damages to be imposed on Apple.
The US Department of Justice said the conspiracy was designed to challenge online retailer Amazon's dominance of the fast-growing e-books market.The US Department of Justice said the conspiracy was designed to challenge online retailer Amazon's dominance of the fast-growing e-books market.
The judge ordered a new hearing to determine damages.
Penguin settled its case for $75m (£49m). Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster created a $69m fund for refunds to consumers, and Macmillan settled for $26m.Penguin settled its case for $75m (£49m). Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster created a $69m fund for refunds to consumers, and Macmillan settled for $26m.
Judge Cote said: "The plaintiffs have shown that the publisher defendants conspired with each other to eliminate retail price competition in order to raise e-book prices, and that Apple played a central role in facilitating and executing that conspiracy.Judge Cote said: "The plaintiffs have shown that the publisher defendants conspired with each other to eliminate retail price competition in order to raise e-book prices, and that Apple played a central role in facilitating and executing that conspiracy.
"Without Apple's orchestration of this conspiracy, it would not have succeeded as it did in the spring of 2010," she said."Without Apple's orchestration of this conspiracy, it would not have succeeded as it did in the spring of 2010," she said.
After the ruling, Mr Neumayr insisted that Apple had done nothing wrong and had, in fact, brought innovation and competition to the market.
Previously, Apple's attorney, Orin Snyder, had told the court that Judge Cote would set a "dangerous precedent"' if she concluded that Apple manipulated e-book prices.
Earlier this year, Apple chief executive Tim Cook dismissed the idea of a settlement with the government. "We didn't do anything wrong there," he said. "We're going to fight."