FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2012) — The notice process is under way for Kentucky residents who purchased e-books and are eligible to receive compensation under a $69 million national e-book settlement with publishers, Attorney General Jack Conway said Thursday.
Approximately $700,000 of the settlement will be allotted to Kentucky consumers who purchased e-books from April 1, 2010, through May 21, 2012, from Hachette Book Group (USA), HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C and Simon & Schuster Inc.
“If you believe you may be eligible to receive compensation under this settlement, please make sure to check recent emails from the retailer where you purchased your e-books,” Conway said. “I want to ensure that Kentucky consumers receive the restitution they are owed as a result of this collusion and that moving forward e-book retailers offer competitive pricing.”
Over the past few days, qualifying consumers should have received emails from the retailers where they purchased their e-books. Consumers who purchased e-books through Apple or Sony should have received emails showing the sender as “State Attorneys General E-book Settlement,” with the email address [email protected]. These are legitimate emails authorized by the Attorney General.
Additional information about the e-book settlement and the credits can be found at www.EBookAGSettlements.com or at https://ebooksagsettlements.com/ContactInformation.aspx .
If the court gives final approval, consumers who bought one or more qualifying e-books from April 1, 2010, through May 21, 2012, and who follow the instructions in their notices will receive a credit into their e-book retailer account or a check. Distribution of checks and/or credits varies among e-book retailers.
Additionally, there will now be two levels of payments, one for eligible New York Times bestsellers and a second for other eligible books. The exact amount to be paid per e-book in both categories is not yet finalized.
In the September e-book settlement, Hachette Book Group (USA), HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C., and Simon & Schuster Inc. agreed to pay a total of more than $69 million to consumers to resolve antitrust claims of an alleged unlawful conspiracy to fix the prices of electronic books. The publishers have also agreed to change the way they price e-books going forward.
Litigation continues against Apple, Inc., Holtzbrinck Publishers L.L.C. d/b/a MacMillian and Penguin Group (U.S.A.), Inc. A trial is currently scheduled for June 2013.
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