Tech 2.0 for Thursday, August 30, 2012
Looks like there's an agreement in a lawsuit claiming there was a conspiracy to fix the prices of e-books. Attorneys general in 55 jurisdictions say they have agreed to accept a $69 million settlement of antitrust claims against three publishers. The three publishers -- Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Shuster -- had earlier settled with the U.S. government. News releases from attorneys general in 55 states, districts and territories Wednesday say the money will be paid to consumers who bought electronic books from the publishers between April 1, 2010, and May 21. Payments are to begin a month after a court approves the deal.
No more delays. The federal judge handling the challenges to Google's plan to create the world's largest digital library says he won't let the case linger any longer. Google had hoped to put off the start of the case while it appeals the judge's decision to make the case a class-action matter involving authors who oppose the digital library. The judge says waiting for a ruling on the class-action issue would delay the trial by a year or more. Google already has scanned more than 20 million books for the project.
The Pac-12 Networks are trying to do an end-around on DirectTV. The two have been squabbling over a deal to continue showing the conference's games on the satellite provider. And now the Pac-12 is out with an open letter to its fans -- suggesting they find another TV provider. Pac-12 Networks will televise 15 non-conference games and 20 Pac-12 football games this season. In the open letter, it says fans who "won't be satisfied without Pac-12 football'' or its other events should drop their subscriptions with DirecTV. That's easier said than done, because of contractual requirements many customers have. But it's another weapon in fights over content that come up from time to time between carriers and providers.
RT @Business_Ghost: 3 major #publishers agree to pay $69 mil in #ebook price fixing settlement. An admission of #guilt?
http://t.co/lhilXJkm
Michigan: Schuette Announces Michigan Consumers To Receive $1.8 Million From Settlement In E-Books Price-Fixing Lawsuit
http://t.co/7uOMGCpw
Utahns to see share of $69 million e-books price-fixing settlement
http://t.co/ATqUmBnp
RT @PublishersLunch: #plnws Judge Chin Sticks With October Trial Date for Google Book Suit Despite Google's Appeal For More Time http:// ...
RT @thelibrarynews: Judge presiding over digital library case in NY won't delay proceedings during Google appeal
http://t.co/fx1xguOn
Hmm... Interesting war of words about to begin - DirecTV rejects Pac-12 Network
http://t.co/tQKa1tIq
Bought popcorn, beer, a yo-yo, a pirate statue, 17 bratwursts & I canceled my Directv. I'm officially ready for Pac-12 football tonight.
Source: No deal between the Pac-12 and DirecTV this week. (Trying to get info on other providers.)
An open letter to our fans hoping to see Pac-12 football on @DIRECTV. Is the status quo really okay?
http://t.co/PaK5qNTG
