Apple, Tim Cook and e-books are sh*t outta luck

Apple CEO Tim Cook may be called to testify in the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit accusing the company of conspiring to hike up e-book prices.

As reported by Bloomberg, Apple's main man could be called in for questioning, following federal allegations of price tampering.

Claiming the company, in unison with five book publishers, of artificially raising e-book prices, U.S. officials claim Apple tried to take control of the market, effectively dismissing Amazon.com as a rival.

Other companies accused includes HarperCollins Publishers, Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan Publushers and Person PLC's Penguin Group.

But while all publishers have agreed to settle in the case, Apple is fighting back against the accusations.

Apple's refusal to be held accountable, rightly or wrongly, has led to the Justice Department asking U.S. District Judge Denise Cote to help settle a "discovery dispute" over Cook's deposition.

Scheduling a conference call on March 13 in repines, it appears Cook looks set to give testimony outlining Apple's defense.

After originally offering a united front, Apple stands alone in arguing the case should be dropped due to a lack of evidence, something Cook may well have to prove in person later this week.