I have the different view: that the Apple/publisher case is a pretty straightforward case of a price fixing conspiracy. Publishers are certainly allowed to, as

I have the different view: that the Apple/publisher case is a pretty straightforward case of a price fixing conspiracy. Publishers are certainly allowed to, as you put it, "refuse to participate in under-pricing books". The problem occurs when they decide to act in concert. I agree with your points about DOJ and the tech industry, and maybe there's something that needs to be done about Amazon right now. I'm not sure. But definitely the wrong thing to do would be to allow a cartel of publishers have any influence over the price structure of the market.