Apple may settle e-book lawsuit for 335 million euros

Apple has received permission from the court to settle the case in the lawsuit over prohibited price-fixing with e-book publishers. According to the proposal, Apple will pay 450 million dollars, converted 335 million euros, although the company will appeal.

The US court in New York has granted preliminary clearance to Apple to pay $400 million to consumers affected by higher e-book prices and $50 million to lawyers, Reuters reported. However, that does not end the case: Apple has already announced that it will appeal and a clause in the settlement proposal ensures that if Apple is found not guilty on appeal, it will only have $50 million left. , has to pay out to consumers.

According to the judge, this clause is worrisome, but there is little chance that the judgment will be reversed on appeal or that the lawsuit will have to be rerun. As a result, the court nevertheless agreed to Apple’s settlement proposal, the judge said. Apple previously announced that it wants to pay 335 million euros in damages.

The lawsuit against Apple and several major book publishers has been dragging on for some time. Several major publishers accused of price fixing have already reached a settlement. A settlement proposal was also reached in the European Union by the publishers and Apple.