Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) sent e-mails to its customers who purchased e-books that they will receive partial rebates as part of their share in the $166 million fund settlement in an antitrust case involving five major publishers.
The e-commerce giant informed its customers that they are entitled to a certain amount of credit for some of their past Kindle book purchases from legal settlements with publishers including Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Penguin in the antitrust lawsuit filed by the State Attorneys General and class plaintiffs regarding the price of e-books.
The latest e-book price fixing settlement was the result of the lawsuit filed by the Attorneys General demanded refunds for the customers in their respective states. The Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against the five publishers and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) in 2012. Last year, United States District Judge Denise Cote found the tech giant was guilty of conspiracy with the five publishers in fixing the prices of e-books.
In a statement, New Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said, “Illegal actions by these publishers forced consumers in New York and across the nation to pay artificially inflated prices for e-books.”
According to Attorney General Schneiderman, consumers who bought e-books in 33 states are entitled to receive refunds. He said $11.5 million will be paid to customers in New York.
Customers who purchased e-books from Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) and other retailers including Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), Barnes & Noble, Inc (NYSE:BKS), and Media Kobo, Inc. (TYO:3815) between April 1, 2010 to May 21, 2012 are entitled for a partial refund.
The rebate for New York Times Best Sellers $3.17 and the refund for all other books is $0.73 for customers in most states. In Minnesota, the credit for New York Times Best sellers is $3.93 and $0.94 for all other books.
Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) said credits will be automatically appear to the accounts of its customers and can be used to purchase any Kindle book or print books sold by the e-commerce giant. According to the company, the credits are valid until March 31, 2015.
 sent e-mails to its customers who purchased e-books that they will receive partial rebates as part of their share){kind=link}