Apple Cooperation With Antitrust Monitor Down 'Sharply': Report

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 17 April 2015 10:27 IST
Apple Inc's cooperation with a court-appointed monitor has "sharply declined" as he reviews the iPad maker's antitrust compliance policies, the monitor wrote in a report to a judge.

Michael Bromwich, who became Apple's monitor after it was found liable for conspiring to raise ebook prices, said in a report on Thursday that Apple objected to providing information and "inappropriately" attempted to limit his activities.

Bromwich, whose relationship with Apple has been testy since the start, had indicated that relations had improved in a report in October to U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan.

However, he said in his latest report that the company recently had taken a more "adversarial tone" in discussions.

Advertisement

"We have conducted no interviews since January, and Apple has rejected our recent requests for interviews," Bromwich wrote.

Advertisement

Despite those difficulties, Bromwich said he had interviewed Apple's entire board and executive team, and Apple had made progress in developing a "comprehensive and effective" compliance program.

Representatives for Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Advertisement

Bromwich, a former U.S. Justice Department inspector general, was appointed by Cote in October 2013 after she found the company liable in the civil antitrust case brought by the Justice Department.

Cote ruled that Apple played a "central role" in scheming from late 2009 into early 2010 with five publishers to raise ebook prices and impede competitors such as Amazon Inc.

The publishers include Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group Inc, News Corp's HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Penguin Group Inc, CBS Corp's Simon & Schuster Inc and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH's Macmillan.

Advertisement

Apple has appealed, arguing it engaged in pro-competitive conduct when it entered an ebooks market in 2010 dominated by Amazon. During arguments in December, a three-judge panel appeared sympathetic to Apple's arguments.

If Apple wins the appeal, it could jeopardize a related $450 million settlement among Apple, 33 attorneys general, and lawyers for a class of consumers.

A separate appeal by Apple seeking to disqualify Bromwich was heard in March. Apple said Bromwich has been overly aggressive in seeking interviews with executives and engaging in private discussions with the Justice Department.

Apple has also objected to Bromwich's fees, initially $1,100 an hour before being reduced to an undisclosed amount.

The case is U.S. v. Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-02826.

© Thomson Reuters 2015

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Antitrust, Apple, Internet, ebook
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Supernatural Thriller Jatadhara Now Streaming on OTT: All the Details
  2. OnePlus 15R Confirmed to Come With 32-Megapixel Selfie Camera
  1. Uranus and Neptune May Be Rock-Dominated Planets, Study Suggests
  2. Kepler and TESS Discoveries Help Astronomers Confirm Over 6,000 Exoplanets Orbiting Other Stars
  3. Supernatural Thriller Jatadhara Arrives on OTT: Where to Watch Sonakashi Sinha-Starrer Film Online?
  4. OnePlus 15R Confirmed to Come With 32-Megapixel Selfie Camera, 4K Video Recording Support
  5. Rocket Lab Clears Final Tests for New 'Hungry Hippo' Fairing on Neutron Rocket
  6. Apple Rolls Out iOS 26.2 Update for iPhone With Liquid Glass Customisation, Changes to Apple Music, and More
  7. Aaromaley Now Streaming on JioHotstar: Everything You Need to Know About This Tamil Romantic-Comedy
  8. Astronomers Observe Star’s Wobbling Orbit, Confirming Einstein’s Frame-Dragging
  9. Galaxy Collisions Found to Activate Supermassive Black Holes, Euclid Data Shows
  10. JWST Detects Oldest Supernova Ever Seen, Linked to GRB 250314A
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.