Google Executive's Testimony Weakens Justice Department's Case Against Apple in E-Book Price Fixing Trial

ibooks_icon.jpgJust days after the U.S. Department of Justice presented its opening arguments against Apple in the antitrust e-book price fixing suit filed filed against Apple last April, the DoJ called Google's director of strategic partnerships Thomas Turvey to add credibility to its allegation, reports The Verge.

According to The Verge's Greg Sandoval, Apple's lead attorney Orin Snyder began "attacking" Turvey's story, eventually getting him to admit, under oath, that his lawyer helped him draft the statement he filed with the court. He also admitted that he couldn't remember whether he or his lawyer had written the important passages in his statement.

Sandoval says that Snyder was able to further weaken Turvey's testimony shortly after that, questioning the details of his statement:

Under Snyder's questioning, Turvey acknowledged that he couldn't remember a single name of any of the publishing executives who had told him Apple was the reason the publishers were switching their business model. He conceded that the publisher's move to the agency system was important to Google's own business, yet Turvey couldn't remember any details about the conversations with publishers. By the end of the interview Turvey had gone from saying the publishers had told him directly, to saying they had merely told people on his team, to finally saying the publishers had "likely" told someone on his team.

Sandoval notes that before today's witness testimony, much of the trial had been going the government's way and that the DoJ appeared to want Apple rival Google, which is not as significant a player in the e-book market as Amazon or Apple, to "pile on" Apple.

Turvey will return to the witness stand on Monday, with the trial set to last two more weeks. Apple's Eddy Cue is expected to testify on June 13.  Apple has consistently defended itself and has said the allegations are "simply not true."

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Top Rated Comments

HiRez Avatar
154 months ago
Worst witness ever? Should have kept him on the stand another 10 minutes, he would have said it was all Google's idea in the first place.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pirg Avatar
154 months ago
Good old google, continuing to do no evil
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Renzatic Avatar
154 months ago
"Mr. Turvey, is it true you suffer from severe retrograde amnesia"?

"I think so. At least that's what they tell me. The doctors, I mean".

"Okay. Thank you for being honest. So now that that's out of the way, can you, in your own words, explain to me exactly who was present and what was said in Jeff Bezos' boathouse on the 8th of September, 2010"?

"OH MY GOD! I'M IN COURT! WHAT AM I DOING IN COURT? IS THIS THE DEAD PROSTITUTE THING AGAIN? THEY SAID I WAS ACQUITTED! THE DOCTORS, I MEAN! I HAVE SEVERE RETROGRADE AMNESIA"!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jakebot Avatar
154 months ago
Good Lawyer.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nunyabinez Avatar
154 months ago
As for eBooks, I would rather have a paper copy most of the time. Besides, these days, a physical copy is cheaper.

Except I don't really read much anyways.. But when I do, I like paper and ink.

Yes, since you don't do much reading, a hard copy is probably better for you. For someone who reads a lot, it can be quite a hassle dragging books around with you. Not to mention that you can't easily search a hard copy.

I collect leather-bound books (Easton Press) and I love a beautiful book. But, ebooks have many advantages these days, not the least of which is that I don't have to go to a store to get it.

I also teach at a University and try to make an ebook version of my texts available. Kind of sad seeing some student walking with a huge backpack that looks like they could tip over at any moment.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mac21ND Avatar
154 months ago
Dude got it handed to him.

From CNET:

"You can't recall the single name of anyone at a single publisher?" Apple lawyer Snyder asked.

"No," Turvey said, which became a common response.

Also from the story:

...At one point, Snyder got Turvey to admit he didn't know if he or his attorney had written certain segments of his declaration...

Duh!

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57588145-37/apple-hammers-google-witness-hard-in-e-book-pricing-trial/
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)