News
Apple and Amazon Face Antitrust Lawsuit Over iPhone and iPad Pricing
Consumer lawsuit claims Apple and Amazon conspired to inflate iPhone and iPad prices. Here’s everything you need to know.
Published on
By
A federal judge in Seattle has ruled that Apple and Amazon must face a consumer antitrust lawsuit in US court. The lawsuit alleges that the tech giants conspired to artificially increase the prices of iPhones and iPads sold on Amazon’s e-commerce platform.
US District Judge John Coughenour’s ruling has led to a legal battle between two companies. The judge dismissed their attempts to dismiss the case and decided that the “validity” of the relevant market, which is crucial in the antitrust litigation filed last November, should be determined by a jury. This ruling has resulted in the case proceeding to evidence-gathering and other pretrial procedures, according toReuters.
Amazon is facing legal actions over its online pricing practices, including a lawsuit filed by US residents who purchased iPhones and iPads on Amazon since January 2019. The plaintiffs allege that an agreement between Apple and Amazon has limited the number of competitive resellers, violating antitrust laws. A lawyer for the plaintiffs, Stever Berman, stated that the recent court ruling is“a major win for consumers of Apple phones and iPads.”
The lawsuit claims that Apple made an agreement with Amazon to offer them a discount on their products if Amazon reduced the number of third-party Apple resellers on their platform. In 2018, there were roughly 600 such resellers on Amazon.
According to the report, Apple has stated that its agreement withAmazonrestricted the number of approved resellers. The objective was to prevent the sale of counterfeit Apple products on Amazon. Apple’s attorney has also described this agreement as a standard practice or“commonplace”, as per the report. The lawyers further stated that the “Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit have routinely recognized that such agreements are procompetitive and lawful.”
According to Coughenour, any“countervailing”incentives affecting the agreement betweenAppleand Amazon will be dealt with in the upcoming legal case. The complaint requests triple damages and other forms of relief but doesn’t specify the amount.
Not the First for Amazon…
Amazon is facing more than one lawsuit related to pricing practices. In addition to the current lawsuit, two months ago, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed an antitrust lawsuit accusing Amazon of compelling third-party sellers to follow rules that led to inflated prices. The request by Amazon to dismiss this lawsuit was denied by a California state court judge. According to reports, the seller agreements included penalties for merchants who sold their products at lower prices on other websites. If the lawsuit against Amazon is successful, the company claims it would have to raise prices, which would result in higher costs for consumers.
Bontapresented new evidencein the antitrust lawsuit against Amazon in April. He pointed out that Amazon’s pricing policies were causing sellers to raise prices on competitor websites. To support his argument, Bonta referred to an internal Amazon memo that revealed complaints from the brand team regarding the policy.
*THIS ARTICLE MIGHT CONTAIN SPONSORED LINKS. WE MIGHT GET A SMALL COMMISSION ON YOUR PURCHASE AT NO EXTRA CHARGE TO YOU.
Xiaomi Pad 6 Launched in India at Rs. 26,999, Rivals iPad 9
Apple Previews iPadOS 17: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Pingback:“Apple và Amazon đối đầu trong vụ kiện giá iPhone và iPad: Ai là người chiến thắng?” - Queen Mobile Blog
Pingback:A controversial Apple-Amazon deal costs $218 million in fines in Spain • TechBriefly
Leave a ReplyCancel reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.Learn how your comment data is processed.
MyNextTablet.com is 100% funded by its readers.In many of our reviews and guides, you’ll find so-called affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you, and you’re supporting independent reviews and independent journalism.Learn more.
The Best Amazon Fire Tablets Compared | 2024 Edition
If you’re in the market for the best Fire tablet, we’ve got your back! Here’s a comprehensive comparison of all…
Top 7 Best Tablets Under $500 | 2024 Edition
Looking for the best tablet under $500? We test almost every tablet and here are our test winners in this…
Best Huawei Tablets: Why I Think You Shouldn’t Get One In 2024
Considering the US embargo that led to the lack of Google support, is it a wise decision to purchase a…
11 Best Tablets With 5G, 4G LTE & SIM Card Slot in 2024
Which are the best tablets with 5G, 4G LTE and SIM card slot? I’m reviewing almost every tablet and here…
11 Best Gaming Tablets for Playing Games Reviewed | 2024 Edition
Which are the best gaming tablets for gamers? We test every new device and try out many games. Here are…
Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro Review: A Strong Galaxy Tab S9+ Alternative?
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2024 Review: The Truth About This S Pen Tablet
Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro Review: Great Gaming Tablet At A Budget
Lenovo Tab Plus Review: The Best Tablet For Music Lovers?
Onyx Boox Note Air 3c Review: Color E-Ink Tablet With Great Pen
OnePlus Pad 2 Review: Better than Samsung and Apple?
Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Review: Cheap Hidden Gem For 2024?
Honor MagicPad 2 Review: Brighter Than All Samsung Tablets
