EU regulator accepts Penguin offer to end dodgy e-book deals with Apple
After the European Commission accepted offers from Apple and four publishers to free up e-book pricing restrictions in December 2012, it's now accepted Penguin's commitment to do the same. Much like Penguin's vow to the US DOJ, it will end its agency agreements with Apple and other retailers, and "most-favored nation" clauses will be absent from any new deals struck over the next five years. Most importantly, e-book retailers will now be able to control prices and discounts of Penguin's catalog for two years. This legally binding pledge essentially brings an end to EC's "competitive concerns," as all involved in the original price-fixing investigation have now settled up.
