Apple hit with injunction over ebook price fixing Apple has been ordered by a US federal court judge to modify its agreements with publishers and appoint an external monitor, under the terms of a scaled-back injunction after its ebook price-fixing case. Details of the permanent injunction came after Apple was found guilty in July of acting as a ringleader in a price-fixing conspiracy as it launched its digital books business. The injunction requires Apple to change its agreements with five publishers to create more price competition. It also requires it to eliminate for five years a contractual clause that had given it the right to match prices at rival retailers. In addition, Apple is prohibited from retaliating against publishers for not entering into agreements with it. The court is appointing an external monitor for two years to ensure the company abides by the terms of the injunction. "Consumers will continue to benefit from lower ebooks prices as a result of the department's enforcement action to restore competition in this important industry," said Bill Baer, US assistant attorney-general. Apple said it would pursue an appeal against the injunction.