ACCC rules out e-book investigation

The competition watchdog says it won’t be opening an investigation into Apple’s e-book pricing in Australia, despite a US court ruling the technology giant violated U.S. antitrust laws last week. Resource-13

Last Wednesday, a US judge found Apple had strategised with book publishers to change pricing practices in a bid to force its rival, Amazon, to raise its prices.

Independent MP, Nick Xenophon, told the Australian Financial Review last week he had written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) seeking a local investigation into potential cartel behaviour in Australia.

“If people are being ripped off on e-books in the States, does that mean they’re being ripped off here?” Xenophon said last week.

An ACCC watchdog spokesperson said the watchdog considered that “conduct of concern occurred in the US and we note that conduct is being sanctioned by the regulatory in the US”.

“The ACCC will continue to follow developments to assess whether further follow up is required in Australia,” a spokesperson said.

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