Penguin's $2.2bn takeover of Simon & Schuster stopped after legal fight over authors

Deal may substantially lessen competition 'in the market for the US publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books', US Justice Department found

Penguin Random House said the decision was 'unfortunate', and said it would 'immediately request an expedited appeal'.

A planned $2.2bn merger of Penguin Random House, the world's largest book publisher, and rival Simon & Schuster cannot go forward, a US judge has ruled.

Judge Florence Pan of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, said in a brief order that she found the US Justice Department had shown the deal may substantially lessen competition "in the market for the US publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books".