Judge rules Apple 'conspired with publishers' for e-book price fix

A Manhattan judge has reportedly announced that software manufacturer Apple allegedly 'conspired' with book publishers in order to fix e-book prices.

According to BBC, Denise Cote said that Apple conspired to restrain trade and ordered new hearing to determine damages to be imposed on Apple.

Apple had been accused by the US government of fixing prices of e-books with publishers rather than individual retailers to do so, thereby taking a percentage of sales made through its iBooks platform.

The US Department of Justice said the conspiracy was designed to challenge online retailer Amazon's dominance of the fast-growing e-books market.

Cote said that Apple conspired to eliminate retail price competition in order to raise e-book prices, and that Apple played a central role in facilitating and executing that conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Apple's spokesman, Tom Neumayr, said that the company would appeal against the ruling and fight 'false allegations'.

US Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer said that after Cote's decision and previous settlements with five major publishers, consumers are again benefiting from retail price competition and paying less for their e-books.

Defending the company, Neumayr insisted that Apple brought competition and innovation in the market and did not restrict it adding that the company will continue to fight against the allegations as it has done nothing wrong, the report added.