Apple tells DOJ: 'we negotiated individually with publishers'

Apple has responded to the US Department of Justice's charge that it conspired with publishers to raise e-book prices, filing a defence which asserts that it "conducted individual negotiations" with the publishers involved in the case.

In documents filed on 26th April and released yesterday [14th May], Apple said its agreements with the publishers were "the result of hard-fought negotiations, reached through compromise and discussion". It said: "Apple denies that competition has been hampered by its entry into the e-book business; rather, competition on price, selection, and content quality has flourished…"