Some Ohio readers may be getting money or account credits following the settlement of a 2012 e-book price-fixing lawsuit.

Attorney General Mike DeWine and counterparts from 32 other states brought the suit against Apple and five of the largest e-book publishers in the country alleging price fixing. Those e-book publishers - Hachette Book Group Inc., HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Simon & Schuster Inc., Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC, d/b/a Macmillan, and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. - settled the claims against them for a total nationwide payment of $166 million, of which approximately $4.7 million will be distributed to Ohio consumers.

Impacted consumers will receive either an account credit or check based on the number of eligible e-books they purchased during the claims period from April 1, 2010 to May 21, 2012. Eligible consumers should watch their email for information from e-book retailers or from the settlement administrator regarding account credits or checks. For more information on the settlements, individuals may call 866-621-4153 or visit www.ebookagsettlements.com .

According to DeWine's office, Apple declined to settle and went to trial in June 2013. A second trial will be held to determine what damages, if any, will be assessed.

"Ohioans should be able to purchase goods in a fair, competitive marketplace free from illegal price-fixing. I'm glad consumers who purchased these e-books are able to recoup the overcharges they paid," Attorney General DeWine said.