Sarah Mirando  |  March 25, 2014

Category: Consumer News

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e-book class action settlementConsumers who purchased e-books between 2010 and 2012 will start to see credits appearing in their Kindle and Nook accounts, thanks to a 2012 class action settlement that’s finally paying out.

Amazon Kindle customers received e-mail notifications Tuesday alerting them that their credits have arrived. Barnes & Noble also said that credits will start showing up for Nook customers today. There may be more money on the way from other e-book retailers involved in the eBook antitrust class action settlement, which will provide credits to all consumers who purchased an e-book from Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin or Macmillan between April 1, 2010 and May 21, 2012.

The credits are from a class action lawsuit settlement with book publishers that were accused of conspiring with Apple to raise e-book prices higher than the $9.99 fee charged by Amazon for its Kindle e-reader. The alleged conspiracy was reportedly spearheaded by Apple to help its iPad compete with Amazon’s discount for Kindle books. Book publishers allegedly agreed to the collusion to eliminate price competition among e-book retailers so they could charge more.

Apple and the book publishers have denied any collusion but the publishers agreed to enter into class action settlement agreements to resolve the litigation, which included multiple consumer class action lawsuits and a multi-state investigation by 33 state attorneys general.

The e-book settlement will provide consumers a credit of $3.17 for each New York Times bestseller they purchased and a credit of $0.73 if the book was never a NYT bestseller. Minnesota consumers, which were involved in a separate class action settlement, will receive slightly more: $3.93 or $0.94 per e-book.

Top Class Actions has been following the e-book price-fixing class action settlement since it was reached with the publishers beginning in 2012. The antitrust case against Apple, which has refused to enter into settlement negotiations, is ongoing.

The E-Book Price-Fixing Class Action Lawsuit is In re: Electronic Books Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:11-md-02293, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

UPDATE: Apple Inc. announced June 16, 2014, that it had reached an undisclosed class action lawsuit settlement in the e-book antitrust litigation.

UPDATE 2: On Nov. 21, 2014, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote granted final approval to the Apple e-book class action settlement.

UPDATE 3: Amazon.com issued additional credits to eligible customers on July 23, 2015. Learn more.

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4 thoughts onKindle, Nook Customers Get e-Book Class Action Settlement Credits

  1. Anita Strommen says:

    I lost the letters telling me of my reward for purchases on my kindle and would like to know whom to contact. Thanks

  2. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE 2: On Nov. 21, 2014, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote granted final approval to the Apple e-book class action settlement.

  3. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE: Apple Inc. announced June 16, 2014, that it had reached an undisclosed class action lawsuit settlement in the e-book antitrust litigation.

  4. LaQuita Parks says:

    Is there any way to double check the amount received? My credit was WAY less than I thought it would be.

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