After a trial that lasted just a few weeks, and wherein we learned that Steve Jobs had to be convinced to open up the iBookstore, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote ruled earlier this week that Apple did conspire with publishers to raise the price of e-books.
As one might expect, Apple will appeal the decision and issued the following statement in the wake of Cote’s ruling: «Apple did not conspire to fix ebook pricing and we will continue to fight against these false accusations. When we introduced the iBookstore in 2010, we gave customers more choice, injecting much needed innovation and competition into the market, breaking Amazon’s monopolistic grip on the publishing industry. We’ve done nothing wrong and we will appeal the judge’s decision».
While of the publishing houses involved in the case were relatively quick to settle with the DOJ, Apple decided to take things to trial. During a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook even called the suit «bizzare» and intimated that Apple, out of principle, wouldn’t admit to doing something it didn’t do.
