Apple CEO required to testify in NY e-books case

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple CEO Tim Cook has been ordered to testify in a New York court case the Justice Department brought against the company over the pricing of e-books for consumers.

Federal Judge Denise Cote on Wednesday granted a government request to question Apple Inc.'s chief executive.

The government sued Apple last spring, saying the technology giant conspired with five major book publishers to raise e-book prices on consumers and eliminate competition. The publishers have all settled.

In its lawsuit, the Justice Department had claimed that Apple and the publishers conspired to drive the cost of e-books from $9.99 to $15 or more for the most popular books.

An Apple spokesman declined comment.