GoKawiilUK tribunal revives part of antitrust case against Apple and Amazon
The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed a renewed version of a consumer class action against Apple and Amazon to proceed in part, after previously refusing to certify the case last year over funding and independence concerns. The lawsuit, led by academic Christine Riefa, alleges a 2018 agreement between the two companies restricted which third-party sellers could offer Apple and Beats products on Amazon's UK marketplace, reducing competition and raising prices for consumers.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The tribunal's earlier refusal centered on how the litigation was funded, since financier Asertis could have been paid out of damages before consumers, potentially leaving the class with nothing. Allowing the case to advance again suggests the funding or representation concerns have been at least partially addressed, though the tribunal's original doubts about class protection could resurface. Similar reseller-restriction disputes involving Apple and Amazon are under scrutiny in Italy, Spain, Germany and the US, so the UK ruling could inform how those cases proceed.
- UK tribunal permits part of a renewed antitrust lawsuit against Apple and Amazon to proceed.
- Case centers on a 2018 agreement allegedly restricting third-party resellers of Apple and Beats products on Amazon UK.
- Earlier certification was denied over concerns about litigation funding and class representative independence.
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Published there as: “Apple and Amazon face renewed UK antitrust lawsuit”
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