E-Books Judge Pledges to Avoid Unnecessary Intrusion Into Apple's Business

[nixiemaiden]

If I am in a Kindle app, it is because I want to read a Kindle book.

If Kindle books were in app purchases, then those purchases would only be available within the app. But no, the digital content stays on Amazon's servers and I can download it to any of my Kindle devices. Amazon needs to hold the transaction and the order for it to make sense. It isn't any more of an in app purchase than the shoes I ordered through my Zappo's app.

It isn't like they are even saying they have to let Amazon sell Kindle books through their Kindle app and host the transaction like they do with the regular Amazon store app. Just a link that a 2 second Google search will give you if you don't already have it. If Apple feels threatened that removing that extra step will give Amazon a competitive advantage, they should market their iBooks product better rather than make it more difficult for the consumer who is already in the app they want to use.

Also if Apple were to remove the Kindle app, I guarantee a lot of people would be pissed off. I would have never bought an iPad without the Kindle app. Why Kindle appeals to me is because it is supported on multiple platforms. If Apple wants Amazon to lose their competitive advantage, they should make it so people can move between different platforms easily. But they don't because they want you to feel locked in and trapped so you keep buying their products since you are so tied to them. If they continue offering superior products though, people won't switch or if they do, they will come back. Do you really want your customers to be of the type that is only with you because they feel like they have invested so much already and it will be wasted if they switch? I mean I guess money is money to them but I think it would be better to keep releasing products that get people excited and wanting to stick with Apple.

 

[WardC]

Edited/deleted comment.

 

[giantfan1224]

Also if Apple were to remove the Kindle app, I guarantee a lot of people would be pissed off.

Which is why they would never do that. Although they should have that right.

Why Kindle appeals to me is because it is supported on multiple platforms.

The irony is it's Apple that has enabled that cross-platform support by allowing a kindle app on iOS. How come no iBooks app on a Kindle?

 

[nitrokev]

Apple should be able to take any book they want, put it in an OCR scanner and digitize it, and sell it as an eBook for any price they want!!

I am sick of hearing all this wah wah wahhh about the issue. It is TEXT for crying out loud. Freedom of the press!!!!

Are you actually being serious?? Thats like saying apple should sell all the music on iTunes and sell it as their own, its just sound waves for crying out loud

 

[Tones2]

The irony is it's Apple that has enabled that cross-platform support by allowing a kindle app on iOS. How come no iBooks app on a Kindle?

Because Apple has not WRITTEN an iBooks app that runs on Android. Nor will they ever.

 

[racer1441]

So she'll be dismissing the case and resigning?

 

[AnalyzeThis]

Interesting that they come down hard on Apple, and let Wall Street dance away EVERY FRICKING TIME!!! Is it because DOJ likes Droids?

Yep, the entire world hates Apple. I wonder why?

It is funny to see Apple playing threatened by barely profitable competitor. And over what? a freaking ebooks...

 

[lolkthxbai]

So she'll be dismissing the case and resigning?

Apple wishes.

 

[gnasher729]

Yep, the entire world hates Apple. I wonder why?

It is funny to see Apple playing threatened by barely profitable competitor. And over what? a freaking ebooks...

Could you explain what you actually mean by that?

The only one playing threatened is Amazon who is afraid that anyone could threaten their monopoly in the eBook market and came crying to the DOJ.

 

[Peace]

We'll then I'm guessing Android will now include links to the Apple App Store ?

 

[AnalyzeThis]

Could you explain what you actually mean by that?

The only one playing threatened is Amazon who is afraid that anyone could threaten their monopoly in the eBook market and came crying to the DOJ.

It would make lot more sense if judges would start ruling in favor of restricting any device maker to control content and other aspects of post sale commerce between consumer and retailers. Allowing device makers App oversight only. It seems that Apple execs believe that they entitled to control sale of media content on devices they sold to consumers. I think this one is coming soon, and ebooks case will look like little blip on the radar.

If any of the Apple Execs had a little bit of conscience, they would make this ebook case to go away as soon as possible with the least amount of noise. If any Apple Exec would be really a bright one - they would quietly settle and move on. It is too much to ask from these folks? Now, Apple may get even into bigger problems when DOJ may start asking questions about other questionable arrangements Apple forces on content retailers. So Apple Execs, keep on pissing on DOJ, it is sure great strategy. Money!=Power. You will lose. The one in power will show you your place.

Please, notice I am making emphasis on Apple Execs, not on Apple as a company. They are the ones, who are dragging Apple into the troubles.

 

[Oletros]

We'll then I'm guessing Android will now include links to the Apple App Store ?

I didn't knew that Apple has released iBooks for Android? Glad to know, it is just USA or I can install it from the Play Store in my country?

 

[aluren]

I thought Apple charges 30% to process all in-app purchases, which includes the administrative cost of processing the payments and remitting to the developer. So in this case DOJ wants Apple to do this for free for Amazon?

 

[osaga]

Anyone want to start a class action suit against Cinemark and AMC Theaters to allow third party snacks and beverages? I know a good Judge at the DOJ we could use.

 

[aristotle]

You are being ironic, no?

No. The UK prime minister who INCREASED CCTV cameras in London was Labour Party leader named Tony Blair. The president of the US who increased NSA, CIA and IRS spying was a Democrat named Obama.

 

[The Phazer]

It's a shame that Apple is still too blind to see that being forced out of their ****** 30% model would be good for them in the long run.

The concept has never generated any money, since nobody is stupid enough to leave the links in the app. It's just made the UI of using iOS worse, and iOS is where Apple makes their money, not the iBooks store.

Apple should be killing the whole thing of their own volition, and they're getting away with being told something they should want to do anyway for the good of their business as a punishment? They should be jumping for joy.

----------

I thought Apple charges 30% to process all in-app purchases, which includes the administrative cost of processing the payments and remitting to the developer. So in this case DOJ wants Apple to do this for free for Amazon?

No.

Apple wouldn't process anything for Amazon whatsoever.

What the DOJ is arguing is that Apple shouldn't be allowed to keep banning applications from using their own billing apparatus instead.

Which would be great news for users.

 

[Renzatic]

No. The UK prime minister who INCREASED CCTV cameras in London was Labour Party leader named Tony Blair. The president of the US who increased NSA, CIA and IRS spying was a Democrat named Obama.

I wouldn't say he's increased it so much as he hasn't done a single damn thing to allay the status quo there. The NSA is very much a bipartisan affair.

"Free healthcare for all"!
"SOCIALISM"
"Voter IDs for some"!
"DISENFRANCHISEMENT"!
"Going through people's email, cloud storage servers, and phonecall metadata"!
"...you know, I'm pretty alright with that".
"Yup. Me too".
"So we cool"?
"Yeah. We cool".

It'd almost be touching if it weren't so goddamn tragic.

 

[gnasher729]

It would make lot more sense if judges would start ruling in favor of restricting any device maker to control content and other aspects of post sale commerce between consumer and retailers. Allowing device makers App oversight only. It seems that Apple execs believe that they entitled to control sale of media content on devices they sold to consumers. I think this one is coming soon, and ebooks case will look like little blip on the radar.

If any of the Apple Execs had a little bit of conscience, they would make this ebook case to go away as soon as possible with the least amount of noise. If any Apple Exec would be really a bright one - they would quietly settle and move on. It is too much to ask from these folks? Now, Apple may get even into bigger problems when DOJ may start asking questions about other questionable arrangements Apple forces on content retailers. So Apple Execs, keep on pissing on DOJ, it is sure great strategy. Money!=Power. You will lose. The one in power will show you your place.

Please, notice I am making emphasis on Apple Execs, not on Apple as a company. They are the ones, who are dragging Apple into the troubles.

Now look at it from Apple's point of view.

There is the 800lb gorilla in the eBook market - Amazon. They have been forcing publishers into contracts they didn't want by using their monopoly market power. Apple offered different contracts to these publishers, and a chance for these publishers to give their business a future, which Amazon was in the process of destroying.

Amazon complained. The DOJ jumped on the bandwagon. The publishers were blackmailed into accepting settlements even though they were not guilty of anything, but they were threatened with lawsuits that would destroy them. And Apple was declared guilty by the judge in this case before the lawsuit ever started.

The effect on businesses is chilling. Compete with Amazon, and the courts will come after you. Fortunately, Apple is not going to give in, and we can only hope that there will be an unbiased judge and a fair trial in the second round.

And do you realise by any chance that Amazon is by far the dominating device maker in the eBook market, building its monopoly by distributing books in the proprietary Kindle format?

 

[racer1441]

Apple wishes.

As do I.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Apple should just pack up its toys and go home.
There is no reason it should have any business operations inside the United States at this point.

And people wonder why business move operations and money overseas.

Progressives being progressives. LOL.

 

[Glideslope]

Epiphany

By Joseph, Denise Cote has had an Epiphany!!

Nah, she just realized what a fiasco her Judicial Oversight has been throughout this comical ordeal. This is far from over, and I hope Apple Legal go all the way to the Supreme Court over this Juvenile Justice.
Thank goodness I never have to worry about Denise Cote being a Supreme Court Nominee after this Display of Judicial Grandstanding.

 

[Sincci]

Apple should just pack up its toys and go home.
There is no reason it should have any business operations inside the United States at this point.

So, where do you think they could move to avoid ANY issues with local goverments?

 

[lkrupp]

Well that's mighty nice of her.

I wonder what she would do if Apple announced it would leave the ebook business because the government has made it impossible to stay? Leave the DOJ to deal with a true Amazon monopoly. What if the publishers decide to get out of the ebook business and only sell real books? It's a lot harder to copy a book than recorded music.

If I were an author I might consider demanding my work be published in physical form only. A really big name author could wreak some havoc if they did that.

 

[Piggie]

I wonder what she would do if Apple announced it would leave the ebook business because the government has made it impossible to stay? Leave the DOJ to deal with a true Amazon monopoly. What if the publishers decide to get out of the ebook business and only sell real books? It's a lot harder to copy a book than recorded music.

If I were an author I might consider demanding my work be published in physical form only. A really big name author could wreak some havoc if they did that.

Why are Apple crying?

They sell books for the price they want
Amazon sell book for the price they want

That's the way the world works folks so what's the problem?

Amazon does what it can to keep the prices as low as it can. well that's great for the consumer.

What Apple can't compete with Amazon on pricing?
So?

That's not the way business works.

 

[Tigger11]

Could you explain what you actually mean by that?

The only one playing threatened is Amazon who is afraid that anyone could threaten their monopoly in the eBook market and came crying to the DOJ.

He's meaning Amazon. Amazon is a company that makes very little money. They lost $7M last quarter and $39M last year, their last 4 quarter roll up is a loss and they predict they will lose money this quarter as well. Amazon isnt a money making company its a poorly run non-profit with delusions of grandeur, especially now that they are having to pay tax in more and more locations.