Apple and Amazon face revived UK consumer lawsuit over product sales
AMZN•A UK tribunal allowed part of a consumer lawsuit against Apple and Amazon to proceed over alleged restrictions on Apple product sales through Amazon’s UK marketplace. The claim could be worth £289 million to £306 million, including interest.
1. Marketplace claims proceed
Britain’s Competition Appeal Tribunal allowed claims over Apple products bought through Amazon’s marketplace to proceed, but rejected broader claims covering products bought directly from Apple and other retailers. The claimant says the permitted part of the case could be worth between £289 million and £306 million, including interest.
2. Alleged sales restrictions
The lawsuit alleges Apple and Amazon agreed in 2018 to limit which sellers could offer Apple- and Beats-branded products on Amazon’s UK website, reducing competition and inflating prices. Judge Kelyn Bacon said the marketplace claims were “plausible, credible and grounded in the facts,” while wider claims rested on a “complex and speculative theory of harm.”
3. Apple disputes claims
The case was refiled by Justin Le Patourel after a largely similar lawsuit brought by Christine Riefa was refused last year. Apple said it “strongly” disagreed with the claims and that its agreement with Amazon aimed to tackle counterfeit products and improve customers’ experience. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
