Dive Brief:
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Amazon and Walt Disney Co. are close to an agreement that would end their two-month long dispute over pricing and promotions, the Wall Street Journal is reporting.
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In a move similar to its tactics in its dispute with authors published by Hachette Book Group, Amazon had made preorders of Disney movies unavailable to its customers.
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Meanwhile, several high-profile authors — including Philip Roth, Orhan Pamuk, and Milan Kundera, most of whom are not published by Hachette — are joining in the fight against Amazon and upping the ante by demanding that the Department of Justice investigate the online retailer’s tactics as possibly illegal under U.S. antitrust law.
Dive Insight:
There are no details about the possible agreement that has returned several Disney titles to Amazon’s site, so it’s not known whether this is a long-term solution for either company. Amazon doesn’t appear to be ready to close its similar dispute with Hachette, which seems to be riling up more writers of even greater fame — many willing to get involved despite not being personally affected. The long-term benefits of Amazon’s take on these matters remain mysterious.