New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has announced New Mexico residents who purchased electronic books (Ebooks) can expect to receive account credits or checks today as a result of the successful prosecution of a price-fixing case against Apple Inc.
New Mexico consumers are expected to receive more than $2.7 million. New Mexico, along with 32 other states, investigated and prosecuted Apple for its participation in the conspiracy to artificially inflate E-book prices. Under a contingent settlement agreement between the states and Apple, a Supreme Court decision triggered Apple’s obligation to pay the maximum consumer compensation amount of $400 million.
“Our office has secured over $2.7 million for New Mexico consumers after investigating and prosecuting Apple for price-fixing,” said Balderas. “Regardless of how big or small, the Office of the Attorney General will continue to hold corporations accountable that seek to harm New Mexico consumers.”
The amounts received by E-book purchasers will be based on the number of E-books purchased between April 1, 2010, and May 21, 2012. For each E-book that was a New York Times bestseller, consumers will receive $6.93. For all other E-books, the payment will be $1.57.
Distribution of the consumer payments should begin today. Customers who purchased E-books through Sony or Google will receive checks in the mail. Customers who purchased E-books through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo will automatically receive credits in their accounts, unless they previously requested to receive checks.
Customers receiving account credits should expect to receive an email between today and June 24 indicating the credits are available in their accounts. Due to the large number of consumers affected, it will take a few days to fully load account credits, and some consumers may not see credits in their accounts until June 24. Credits can be used to purchase anything sold by these retailers, not only E-books.
The settlement administrator has set up a website and toll-free phone number for consumers with questions about this distribution. Visit www.ebooklawsuits.com or call 866-686-9333 for more information.
