Implications of DOJ vs Apple for developers?

[Peter Bogdanoff]

Adam Engst of TidBits writes a good bit about this.

An explanation of the decision:
http://tidbits.com/article/13912

The remedies:
http://tidbits.com/article/13998

I don't think it applies at all to the iTunes store because it had to do with Apple talking to the book publishers and they coming up with an agreement on pricing together.

The eBook idea in this case seems to deal only with books published by the 5 major publishers in both print and eBook format, and the prices set for the eBooks. I didn't see any indication that it would cover other publications in other venues such as the iTunes store. There, Apple doesn't control the prices set for apps, the publishers do.

Peter Bogdanoff
UCLA


On Aug 24, 2013, at 11:08 AM, Richard Gaskin wrote:

> Having found Apple guilty of price-fixing, the DOJ has required the company to "let competitors link to their own e-book stores from their apps." for a period of at least five years:
> <http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-doj-apple-revised-ebook-penalties-20130823,0,238864.story>
> 
> What I haven't been able to find is whether this applies only to "ebooks", or to any in-app purchases in the Apple app store.
> 
> With ebooks employing ever-increasing interactivity, what's the difference between an "ebook" and an "app" in terms of this injunction?
> 
> Are all developers now free to link to payment options for add-on "content" outside of Apple's store?
> 
> If not, how exactly is "ebook" defined in the DOJ's injunction?
> 
> I've been trying to dig up URLs with details on this, but so far all I'm finding is flamewar fodder and little substance.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any real info you can share.
> 
> --
> Richard Gaskin
> Fourth World
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