Apple 'plotted over e-books prices'

Tech giant Apple has been found guilty of conspiring with publishers to raise electronic book prices.

The judgement came at a New York civil anti-competition trial after a lawsuit was filed last year against Apple and major publishers. The US government previously reached settlements with five publishers.

Apple lawyer Orin Snyder had told Judge Denise Cote that she would set a “dangerous precedent” if she concluded that Apple manipulated e-book prices as it entered the market in 2010.

The trial had featured evidence from executives for Apple, publishers and Amazon.com.

Apple said it will appeal against the ruling. A spokesman said it did not conspire to fix e-book pricing and would continue to fight the ``false accusations.'' He said Apple brought much-needed innovation and competition into the market in 2010.