U.S. v Bertelsmann: Book Publishing Market
Case Study
On November 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an injunction against Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA’s proposed acquisition of Simon & Schuster, a prominent publisher. Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA owns Penguin Random House, another significant publisher. On October 31, 2022, the district court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, effectively blocking the acquisition. While mergers often involve the consolidation of buyers, this case raises competitive concerns regarding the merger of publishers, who purchase creative works from authors, the sellers. In this discussion, we will delve into the complexities of this captivating case.
