US: Grip seems to lessen on Apple as eBooks sanctions decision expected next week

US District Judge Denise Cote, who is presiding over the longstanding and highly publicized eBooks price-fixing case against Apple Inc., said Tuesday she plans to ensure that sanctions imposed on the tech company are not overly burdensome as she prepares to sign the final decision next week.

The company will reportedly face lessoned punishments compared to those recommended by the US Department of Justice, which sued the company for price-fixing eBooks. Judge Cote said Apple will be banned for two years from agency pricing agreements with publishers. Of the most controversial of sanctions is the recommendation that a watchdog be instated by the court for the sole purpose of monitoring Apple’s business practices. Reports say the creation of such a watchdog is now likely to be part of Judge Cote’s final ruling.

Apple says it will appeal Judge Cote’s final sanctions, which are set for finalization next week.

The judge said she will make sure the sanctions “rest as lightly as possible” on Apple, which was found guilty of conspiring to fix eBooks prices with various publishers last month. The DOJ settled out of court with the publishers also accused of the conspiracy.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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