U.S. Wants to End Apple E-Book Antitrust Compliance Monitoring

The Justice Department said that it’s largely satisfied with Apple’s response of reforms and compliance with the antitrust laws, even though it believes the Cupertino-based company had internal fights with the monitor assigned to them – Michael Bromwich – to ensure the sale of e-books went as the court appointed.

But the division stated it was giving larger weight to Bromwich’s “evaluation that Apple has put in place a significant antitrust compliance programme than to the troublesome path it took to realize this outcome”. Bromwich furnished what could be his final report last week, saying that while Apple still resists requests for information, its antitrust compliance program has made satisfactory progress.

In the joint-letter to U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, Apple acknowledged its relationship with Bromwich was “rocky at times”, but said it would continue to comply with its obligations.

Three years ago, the Department of Justice brought Apple, and major publishers, to book for trying to maintain the prices at which e-books could be sold.

The decision means that Bromwich’s two-year term will end on Friday. The department said Apple “never embraced a cooperative working relationship with the monitor”. It was felt that Bromwich was trying to shove his nose into parts of Apple’s business that didn’t relate to iBooks, and greatly exaggerated the extent of his powers.

Apple bristled at having to accommodate a monitor after an antitrust case ended in 2013 with a finding that the California-based technology giant led an illegal conspiracy to fix prices of e-books.

Apple is contemplating whether or not to attraction that call to the US Supreme Court.

If it stands, the appellate ruling would require Apple to pay $450 million in a settlement of related claims by 31 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and consumers.

In June, a divided USA appeals courtroom in New York upheld Cote’s discovering, rejecting Apple’s argument that it had engaged in professional-aggressive conduct.