MichaelBromwich
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Apple's e-book business is no longer under scrutiny
Three years ago, the Department of Justice brought Apple, and major publishers, to book for trying to maintain the prices at which e-books could be sold. As part of its punishment, the firm had to suffer the presence of a court-approved monitor, Michael Bromwich (pictured, left), placed to ensure that Apple cleaned up its act. Now, after many long months of having a third party roaming the halls of One Infinite Loop, the DoJ has concluded that Bromwich has done his job, and will no longer have to stand watch over the iBooks team.
Judge appoints external monitor to ensure Apple complies with antitrust laws
This past July, US District Judge Denise Cote found Apple guilty of colluding with book publishers in an effort to raise the price of e-books across the industry. Following that, the Department of Justice proposed a wide array of remedies to ensure that Apple wouldn't run afoul of antitrust laws in the future. One of the proposed remedies called for the court to appoint an external monitor tasked with keeping an eye on Apple as to ensure that they comply with antitrust laws going forward. On Wednesday, Judge Cote appointed former Assistant US Attorney Michael Bromwich as that external monitor. CNET reports: Bromwich was one of two names picked by the Justice Department as well as plaintiff states as part of last month's injunction ruling. As monitor, he'll work from inside Apple to maintain the company's compliance with US antitrust laws. Bromwich filled a similar, independent monitor role within the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia a little more than a decade ago, and more recently served as part of US oversight on the oil industry. Apple previously argued that an external monitor was wholly unnecessary, but ultimately failed to persuade Cote. Bromwich will keep an eye on Apple's antitrust compliance for two years. Note that the two-year period is less than the five-year period initially proposed by the DOJ. Lastly, Apple earlier this month filed a motion indicating that it plans to appeal Cote's ruling. Formal arguments on the matter, however, won't be submitted until early 2014.
