TelecomFreq,
Agreed. They will settle, write a check, change things a bit but not enough to change the fact that they print money.
Lots of things Apple does smell like monopoly, what's interesting is that they never really got called out for trashing the music industry.
Re: Cost
driven
3/14/2012 11:20:19 AM
Make the penalty fit the crime: if Apple is found guilty of something, make several senior execs work at Foxconn for a month, just like the other employees, no special perks. That would be justice.
I think its kind of upsetting when penalties do not change behavior they are just part of business. Why have laws and policy in place if they dont mean anything...
Cost
AskAsa
3/13/2012 10:56:32 PM
I'm sure Apple and many of the others view these penalties and legal costs as part of the price of doing business.
Re: What about the publishers?
TelecomFreq
3/13/2012 4:06:19 PM
When a company has as much in the bank as Apple, it will take more than a little fine to change the way they do business.
Re: What about the publishers?
cat tail
3/13/2012 3:57:55 PM
You're right, TelecomFreq. There's never any major penalties--just some nomimal fine.
Re: What about the publishers?
Dex
3/13/2012 3:42:38 PM
I agree, @Value Hiker. Apple thinks a lot less differently than it wants us to believe.
Re: What about the publishers?
TelecomFreq
3/13/2012 3:42:13 PM
Though I agree this is a big problem and I am also glad the DOJ is doing something about it, I can not see Apple getting any more then a slap on the wrist, Thats how these deals always shake down.
Re: What about the publishers?
Value Hiker
3/13/2012 12:08:07 PM
Apple's deal with publishers (not one of them, but the association of publishers) is a typical case of price fixing. It is not only unethnical, but also illegal. I am glad that DOJ finally decided to do something right.
It is common sense that ebook shall cost much less comparing to phsical books, just like digital music costs much less than CD. But it does not happen. The reason is the same why diamond costs so much while we all know it is just a piece of stone.
De Beers once controlled the world's 90% raw diamonds supply through price-fixing with smaller manufacturers and vendors. During WWII, De Beers tried to cut a deal with US government. It promised to provide the industrial diamond cheaply in return for immunity from anti-trust prosecution after the war. DOJ rejected the deal and suited the De Beers, but De Beers got away because it has no presence on US soil.
Apple did the right thing to force the media company selling music at right price. But Steve Jobs decided to entice the e-book pulishers joining the Apple camp by providing the price-fixing. The deal not only hurt the Amazon, but also the consumers in general.
The blogs and comments posted on Investor Uprising do not reflect the views of Investor Uprising, PRNewswire, or its sponsors. Investor Uprising, PRNewswire, and its sponsors do not assume responsibility for any comments, claims, or opinions made by authors and bloggers. They are no substitute for your own research and should not be relied upon for trading or any other purpose.
Tweet This