Marylanders are to receive more than $9 million following the United States v. Apple Inc., case

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision has made way for more than $9 million to be returned to Marylanders who paid higher prices for electronic books because of price-fixing by Apple Inc.

Officials say, this comes after the Supreme Court denied Apple’s petition for review in United States v. Apple Inc., which makes final lower court decisions that Apple orchestrated a price-fixing conspiracy with major e-book publishers, and substantially raised prices.

Apperently, the decision triggers Apple’s obligation to pay more than $9 million to Marylander customers, and $400 million overall.

Customers can expect to receive the refunds in the form of credits to be applied to future purchases.

Attorney General Brian Frosh applauded the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Monday, releasing in a statement; “It is deeply troubling when companies conspire to thwart competition and take more money from our wallets, and that is just what Apple has done.”

He later says, he’s glad the important case has come to an end, with purchasers of e-books getting the relief they deserve.

Starting in 2012, Maryland has been among the leaders in an investigation and antitrust complaint against Apple and five e-book publishers, charging the companies with conspiring to artificially raise prices.

Officials say Maryland along with other states had previously settled with the publishers for $166 million.

According to records, Apple’s payment will bring to $566 million the amount repaid to e-book purchasers nationwide who had been overcharged as a result of Apple’s and the publishers’ illegal conspiracy.