Ondrej Holzman Four months ago Apple he agreed, to pay $400 million in damages to customers in the e-book price-rigging case, and now Judge Denise Cote has finally sanctioned the deal. However, the situation can still be changed by the appeals court - according to its verdict, it will decide whether Apple will have to pay the entire amount.
The complex case began in 2011 with a class-action lawsuit by customers, joined by the attorneys general of 33 states and the US government, alleging Apple cheated on e-book prices when it partnered with major publishers. The result should have been generally more expensive e-books. Although Apple has always maintained that it has not committed any offense against the law, it lost the case in 2013.
In July of this year, Apple agreed to an out-of-court settlement, in which it would pay out 400 million dollars to the injured customers and another 50 million would go to court costs. On Friday, Judge Denise Cote cleared the deal after four months, saying it was a "fair and reasonable" settlement. Apple agreed to such an agreement before the court - the plaintiffs - had to decide on the amount of compensation they demanded up to 840 million dollars.
Judge Cote said during Friday's hearing that this was a "highly unusual" and "extraordinarily convoluted" deal. However, Apple has not yet definitively given up by closing it, it has bet all its cards with this move court of Appeal, which will meet on December 15, and its decision will depend on how much the California company ends up paying for manipulating the prices of e-books.
If the appeals court overturns Cote's sentence and reinstates her case, Apple would only have to pay $50 million to injured customers and $20 million to lawyers. When the appeals court ruled in Apple's favor, the entire amount would be wiped out. However, if the appeals court upholds Cote's decision, Apple will be required to pay the agreed $450 million.
