|
Amazon.com, NYT settle
|
 |
August 9, 1999: 1:43 p.m. ET
Online bookseller, newspaper publisher settle dispute over bestseller list
|
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Amazon.com and The New York Times said Monday they agreed to settle a highly publicized dispute about Amazon's use of the Times' bestseller list on its Web site.
As part of the agreement, Amazon will continue to publish the Times' bestseller list on its site without giving away sales figures or the books' ranking until the newspaper makes it available to the general public. Amazon also will continue to include a disclaimer indicating that the Times is not affiliated with and does not endorse Amazon.
The truce comes in response to legal threats and charges of copyright infringement against Amazon over its practice of publishing the Times' bestseller list on its Web site -- a tactic it adopted after finding itself in embroiled in a half-price bookselling war with its online competitors.
The spat between the Gray Lady and the e-tailing giant began on May 17, when Amazon announced it would start selling Times bestsellers at a 50 percent discount. At the time, Amazon was publishing the bestseller list on its Web site in numerical order -- beating the paper to the punch on releasing the rankings and sales volumes of popular books.
On May 28, the Times replied with a letter telling Amazon to "cease and desist" using the well-known list, alleging the Seattle electronic retailer was infringing on its copyright. Amazon conceded by making changes to its site, though still filed for a "declaratory judgment," asking the court to rule it could continue using the roster of bestsellers.
Additional terms of the agreement, including any monetary compensation, weren't disclosed.
New York Times (NYT) shares fell 1/4 to 37-1/16 in midday New York trading, while Amazon (AMZN) shares declined 1-1/2 to 88-1/16. 
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
