Apple's
contentious time spent with e-book antitrust monitor Michael Bromwich has may be coming to a close. A letter filed jointly by Apple and the US government claims that the computer manufacturer has "implemented meaningful antitrust policies, procedures, and training programs that were obviously lacking at the time Apple participated in and facilitated the horizontal price-fixing conspiracy found by this court," and recommends that the antitrust monitor's tenure need not be extended.
Despite a publicly rocky relationship with the court-appointed monitor, Apple says in the letter that "over the past two years, Apple has developed and implemented a comprehensive, engaging, and effective antitrust compliance program."
Bloomberg was the first to report on the filing.
At the
beginning of October, Bromwich himself told the court that Apple continues to impeded his investigations by raising objections to requests for information, and has rejected requests for Bromwich to interview board members and executives not connected to the e-book part of the iTunes stores. Bromwich believes that Apple's petulance "has cast an unnecessary shadow over meaningful progress in developing a comprehensive and effective antitrust compliance program." He also believes that the program has become "substantially stronger" during his tenure as monitor.
An appeal of Bromwich's supervision with the US Court of Appeals upheld Cote's basic finding of Apple being guilty of a "horizontal price-fixing" conspiracy with the book publishing industry against market leader Amazon. However, the ruling scaled back Bromwich's duties, and cut back the scope of his authority within the company. Apple has petitioned the Supreme Court, but it is unknown if the court will hear the appeal.
Regardless of recommendation, Judge Cote must rule to have the monitor withdrawn. It is not known when deliberations or further oral arguments for any such ruling will be made.
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