If you’re an avid reader who bought at least 12 ebooks in the years between 2010 and 2017, you could be eligible for a payout from a more than $15 million class-action settlement involving claims of a price-fixing conspiracy among publishers and tech giants.
The lawsuit alleged Apple, Apple Canada and various major publishers of ebooks conspired to “fix, maintain, increase or control the price of ebooks” sold in Canada — leading the price of the products to be artificially inflated between 2010 and 2017, according to the class action settlement’s website.
Although the publishers denied the allegations and none of the claims have been proven in court, the defendants agreed to pay out $15.175 million to settle the case. Here’s how you can sign up.
Who’s eligible for the ebook class action settlement
Claimants who bought 12 or more eligible ebooks from Google, Amazon, Sony, Kobo or iTunes between April 1, 2010 and March 10, 2017 using a Canadian account will receive a variable payment, depending on the number of books purchased and the price paid for the products.
Eligible ebooks include those published or distributed by Hachette, Harper Collins, MacMillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster between the dates above. Excluded are ebooks published or distributed by Penguin Random House Canada Limited after Dec. 31, 2014.
How can I submit a claim?
People who purchased 12 or more of the ebooks using a Canadian account with Google, Amazon or Sony — or whose iTunes or Kobo Account is not associated with a currently valid email address — must submit a claim by Sept. 23, 2024. You can submit a claim using this online form.
Readers whose iTunes or Kobo account remains linked to a valid email address are automatically enrolled and will receive a payment without the need to do anything. You’ll have received an email about the settlement if you’re among those automatically enrolled.
How will I get my money?
People who submitted a claim through the online form will receive a mailed cheque for the amounts owed to the address provided during the claims process.
People with a currently active iTunes or Kobo account will automatically get credits deposited in their account — although these funds are forfeit if the account is closed before the transfer is made.
If your iTunes account isn’t active or not used within a year prior to when the data was reviewed, but is still linked to a valid email address, you’ll automatically get paid via e-transfer.
Payments are not expected to be made until the fall of 2024.
