APPLE HAS LOST its bid to block an antitrust monitor appointed by the US Justice Department appointed to ensure it doesn’t fix ebook prices.
Reuters reports that the US district judge Denise Cote denied the company’s request to block Michael Bromwich, the person tasked with keeping the company within the bounds of antitrust laws.
Apple contested the decision saying that Bromwich, who was appointed in October, had a personal bias against the company. He then filed a declaration disputing Apple’s claims and referenced a number of unsuccessful attempts to gain the company’s cooperation.
Cote rejected the company’s claims saying there was “nothing improper” about a declaration filed by a lawyer to sever as monitor. She hoped Apple would cooperate with the monitor going forward, and urged both parties to bring disputes to her sooner.
Apple can still appeal the decision, but will only have 48 hours to do so after Cote elaborates on her decision.
Bromwich’s appointment was one of a number of conditions placed on Apple by the US Justice Department. It also ordered the company to sever its existing agreements with the major book publishers, and change the way competitors are able to display and link content within apps on its iOS platform.
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