Mo. residents can now receive credits in $400M Apple settlement

Last edited 12:25 p.m., June 21, 2016

Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) today began paying out $400 million over an electronic books settlement reached earlier this year, according to a news release from Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s office.

Missouri's portion is estimated at $7.6 million, said Nanci Gonder, a spokeswoman for Koster's office.

In March, Apple was ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court to pay $450 million for allegedly colluding with publishers to manipulate e-book prices. The court order meant Apple had to comply with a $400 million agreement reached in 2014 to pay back customers, according to Bloomberg.

In the settlement with Missouri and 32 other states, Apple is required to give account credits or a check to customers who bought e-books from April 1, 2010, to May 21, 2012, through its own store or at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

Some consumers will automatically receive credits or a check, according to EbookLawsuits.com. Credits range from $1.57 to $6.93 per book, according to the release.

“We proved in court that Apple conspired with publishers to increase the costs to consumers for e-books,” Koster said in the release. “Now consumers will receive credits they are due.”

Publishers involved include Penguin Group Inc., Hachette Book Group Inc., HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Simon & Schuster Inc. and Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC, dba Macmillan.

Koster joined the lawsuit in April 2012, when 15 other states were involved, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.