DOJ Files Antitrust Lawsuit to Block $2 Billion Merger of Major Book Publishing Companies

Penguin Random House seeks to acquire its competitor, Simon & Schuster

The Penguin logo is visible on the spines of books displayed on a shelf at Book Passage in Corte Madera, Calif., on Nov. 2, 2021. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit on Nov. 2 to block a merger of two major book publishing companies.

Penguin Random House, the largest book publisher in the world, is seeking to acquire its competitor, Simon & Schuster, for $2.18 billion. The sale was announced in November 2020.