Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Upsetting the Apple Cart?

By Martin J. Foncello
October 02, 2015

Observers of federal compliance monitors are accustomed to seeing them appointed after negotiation, commonly by deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) in criminal matters or by consent decrees in civil matters. The monitorship in the Apple e-books antitrust case is a notable exception, in that the monitor, Michael Bromwich, was appointed by injunction after trial. The litigation surrounding the Apple monitor's appointment illustrates pitfalls that can arise when monitoring relationships become adversarial, and it provides useful guidance for the future.

The Case

On July 10, 2013, following a bench trial, Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York found for the plaintiffs (the Department of Justice [DOJ] and more than 30 states and territories), and concluded that Apple conspired with major book publishers to raise e-book prices collectively, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. U.S. v. Apple, Inc., 952 F. Supp. 2d 638 (S.D.N.Y. 2013), aff'd, 791 F.3d 290 (2d Cir. 2015). Judge Cote issued a permanent injunction and appointed the external monitor, pursuant to the Master provision of Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(a).

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?

Fresh Filings Image

Notable recent court filings in entertainment law.