Antitrust authority
Million fine for Apple and Amazon in Italy
A three-digit million fine was imposed on Amazon and Apple in Italy. Photo: Monika Skolimowska / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa / illustration
© dpa-infocom GmbH
In Italy it will be expensive for Amazon and Apple: The two US companies will have to pay a three-digit million fine. You are accused of collusion on Amazon’s so-called Marketplace.
Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has against Amazon and Apple imposed a three-digit million fine.
An investigation has shown that by means of clauses of a contract dated October 31, 2018, official and unofficial retailers were prohibited from selling real Apple products and the associated Beats brand on the so-called Amazon.it marketplace, according to a statement from the AGCM from Tuesday. Only Amazon itself and individual sellers selected “in a discriminatory manner” would have been allowed to sell the products there.
According to AGCM, this behavior is against EU law. Amazon is to pay a fine of 68.7 million euros, Apple 134.5 million euros. In addition, third-party providers should be able to sell the Apple and Beats products again on the marketplace of the Italian Amazon website.
Apple said it would respect the Italian authority. But you think you haven’t done anything wrong. For the safety of customers, it is important that they can be sure that they are buying real products. The US company wants to appeal. Amazon also says it wants to appeal the penalty. It is disproportionate and unjustified. The company denied allegations that Amazon benefited from excluding sellers because the business model depends on their success.