Thousands of Maryland consumers who bought electronic books at artificially inflated prices will get their share of $9 million in credits and checks from Apple this week, Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh said Monday.

The credits, first announced in March, are part of a $400 million settlement of a lawsuit accusing Apple and five e-book publishers of conspiring in a price-fixing scheme. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York had determined in June 2015 that the technology giant conspired with the publishers in a violation of federal antitrust laws.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Apple's request for a review of the lower court's findings this winter.

Apple paid the $400 million into a consumer fund to be distributed nationwide. Maryland was among 33 states or territories that joined the suit, which also named the publishers Harper Collins, Hachette, Penguin, Simon & Schuster and MacMillan.

“When companies conspire to thwart competition, consumers lose money,” Frosh said Monday. “I'm gratified that we were able to halt these exploitative practices and get consumers some relief.”

Representatives from Apple did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Consumer credit or check amounts are based on the number of books a consumer bought between April 1, 2010, and May 21, 2012. Consumers will receive a credit of $6.93 for each New York Times bestseller and $1.57 each for others.

The credits, good for future purchases for one year and for e-books or other merchandise, will be issued at retailers where consumers bought their e-books, including Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Consumers can expect an email by June 24 alerting them to a credit, unless they previously requested a check. Customers who bought e-books through Sony or Google will be sent checks.

Maryland and the other states previously settled with the e-book publishers for $166 million, an amount that was distributed in March 2014.

The lawsuit alleged that the publishers and Apple agreed to a distribution model in which the publishers set prices for bestsellers at $12.99 and $14.99. As Apple got into the e-book market with its iPad, the lawsuit said, the publishers and Apple set terms that forced all e-book outlets to sell their products at the same, higher prices, essentially eliminating competition. According to the states' enforcement action, consumers ended up paying more than $100 million in overcharges.

lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com