Apple leader admits e-book prices rose with iPad launch

Fourth generation Apple iPads are seen on display at an Apple store on February 5, 2013 in San Francisco, California
Fourth generation Apple iPads are seen on display at an Apple store on February 5, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Apple exec Eddy Cue acknowledged Thursday that prices of e-books rose after the launch of the iPad, but denied the company had any role in fixing prices.

Apple's chief dealmaker acknowledged that prices of best-selling e-books rose after the tech giant launched iPad book sales in 2010, but denied any role in a plot to fix prices.

Eddy Cue, a for many of Apple's Internet products, did admit in federal court that he had discussed a possible bid with late founder to carve up the Internet books and with Amazon.

Prosecutors produced figures at the high-profile to show that prices of best-selling e-books rose after Apple launched its iPad in April 2010.

Cue said Thursday he was "not surprised" but added that it had only affected "certain books."

"I didn't raise prices," said Cue, a right-hand man of the late Jobs, who oversaw the launch of Internet successes such as and Apple's App Store as well as iTunes Radio last week.

The US has accused Apple of being the "chief ringleader" in a price-fixing scandal that has cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. The company denies all charges.

Apple has sought to put the blame on publishers for the increased cost of books.

"They had expressed they wanted higher prices from us," Cue said.

He disputed ' claims that the company did not care if people paid $12.99 or $14.99 for e-books instead of the $9.99 on rivals such as Amazon.

Apple's chief dealmaker Eddy Cue speaks at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California on October 4, 2011
Eddy Cue, Apple's chief dealmaker, speaks at the company's headquarters in California on October 4, 2011. Cue acknowledged that prices of best-selling e-books rose after Apple launched iPad book sales in 2010, but denied any role in a plot to fix prices.

"Our consumers were protected" by the deal he arranged, Cue said. "I thought we were going to treat our consumers very, very fairly."

Cue was closely questioned about talks in late 2009 and January 2010 with publishers Harper Collins, MacMillan, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and Hachette, which have settled with the government to avoid a trial.

But he strongly denied any involvement in their alleged efforts to push up prices.

"You constantly pitched the deal that you were proposing as a way for them to change the entire e-books industry," said prosecutor Lawrence Buterman.

At the time that Apple launched its iBooks store, Amazon already controlled up to 90 percent of the e-book market.

Apple had planned a wholesale accord with the publisher's like Amazon, buying titles and then setting prices itself.

It finally agreed a so-called agency model, in which publishers set the price and Apple receives a 30 percent commission on sales.

Emails between Apple founder Jobs and Cue featured strongly in the debate.

Jobs had initially opposed the iBooks venture but Cue said he convinced him and then raced to get the project finished as he knew his boss was dying. Jobs died from cancer in October 2011.

Cue said he realised iBooks could be a success after testing prototype versions of the iPad. He rushed negotiations with publishers so that Jobs could announced the venture when he showed off the first on January 27, 2010.

Cue told the court there had been "tremendous pressure" to get negotiations finished for the as Jobs was "near the end of his life."

"I wanted to get it done in time for that as I wanted to get it done for him," the executive said.

One email exchange between Cue and Jobs showed the two had "contemplated" a "market allocation" deal under which Apple would let Amazon have the book market and would take music.

Cue acknowledged the talks but gave no detail as to why the pair decided not to go ahead.

The trial is expected to last through Wednesday and Cue was due to give more evidence on Monday.

© 2013 AFP

Citation: Apple leader admits e-book prices rose with iPad launch (2013, June 14) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2013-06-apple-leader-e-book-prices-rose.html
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