Apple is headed for a spanking from the US government and dozens of states, which wants tough new restrictions be imposed on the company for illegally conspiring to raise e-book prices.

Changes proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and 33 U.S. states and territories are designed to stop Apple from committing further antitrust violations. Changes extend beyond e-books, potentially limiting Apple's ability to negotiate for such content as movies, music and TV shows, and increasing regulatory oversight of other business areas such as the company' App Store.

In a court filing, Apple called the proposed injunction a "draconian and punitive intrusion" into its business that would hurt consumers and competition and was "wildly out of proportion" to the harm it was meant to address. Perhaps it should of thought of that before it decided to cheat its customers by arranging a price cartel.