Apple ebook price fixing trial set for June 3rd, 2013

The US Justice Department’s ebook price fixing lawsuit against Apple and two book publishers will head to trial on June 3rd, 2013. District Judge Denise Cote made the date official at the conclusion of a hearing in New York City Friday. That gives both sides plenty of time to build their case in the antitrust suit, which accuses Apple and five publishers of colluding to raise ebook prices by moving to a controversial agency model in 2010.

Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins Publishers, and Hachette Book Group have already reached settlements with the government, leaving Macmillan and Penguin Group to fight the charges alongside Apple. There’s always the possibility both sides will come to an agreement before entering the courtroom next year, though Apple seems resolute in defending itself from the DOJ’s litigation efforts. 2012 has already seen its share of memorable legal battles, and it doesn’t seem like that trend will be slowing down any next year.