On the business of books...

The WSJ has an article today on the current investigation by the Justice Department on allegations of price fixing on e-books by Apple and some Publishers:

U.S. Warns Apple, Publishers

Justice Department Threatens Lawsuits, Alleging Collusion Over E-Book Pricing

 

Mike Shatzkin, of The Shatzkin Files, weighs in here:

If the government makes agency go away

 

Scott Turow, author and President of the Authors Guild:

Letter from Scott Turow: Grim News

 

John R. MacArthur, publisher of Harper's Magazine:

John R. MacArthur: Internet con men ravage publishing

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I think it would be great if the big six publishers opened up retail centers, or thought about underwriting some independent bookstores. It seems to me to be a natural.