Consumers Receive Refunds from E-book Settlement - East Idaho News
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Consumers Receive Refunds from E-book Settlement

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Getty 032514 LawsuitSettlement?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1395782873749iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Many Amazon customers received surprise refunds on Tuesday, the result of a $166 million settlement between some of America’s largest book publishers and the U.S. Justice Department.

A civil antitrust lawsuit was filed nearly two years ago that claimed Apple had engaged in a conspiracy to raise e-book prices in the hopes of preventing Amazon from selling digital best-sellers at a discounted $9.99 rate. The two sides settled last December, providing on e-book purchases between April 1, 2010 and May 21, 2012.

The Wall Street Journal reports that customers will receive $3.17 for each New York Times best-seller and 73 cents for all other e-books they purchased. Residents of Minnesota, which engaged in separate negotiations, according to the Journal, will receive $3.93 per New York Times best-seller and 94 cents for all other titles.

Those who purchased their e-books through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo Inc. will receive refunds, the Journal says. Amazon and Barnes & Noble said on Tuesday that they were informing their customers of the amount of the refund they will receive.

Apple did not settle in the case, says the Journal, and is currently appealing after being found guilty of collusion.

The publishers involved in the suit will pay the refunds for Apple customers.

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