Apple sued over eBook pricing

The US Justice Department has sued Apple for colluding with publishers including Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan and Penguin to fix eBook pricing. The lawsuit alleges that Apple's switch a year ago, to an agency model - which saw Apple keeping 30 per cent of sales and publishers setting prices - amounts to anticompetitive practices.

According to reports, Apple - as well as publisher Macmillian - are denying the claims and refusing to begin settlement talks.