Italy charged amazon and apple for reported anti-competition cooperation in selling apple and beats products; the total fine is €200 million. The problem was the agreement between Apple and Amazon held in 2018, which only allowed Amazon and select retailers to offer Apple and Beats products on Amazon Italy. The restrictions also placed on the cross-boarder sales.
The Italian authority says, “it reduced competition for prices and reduced the number of discounts offered by third parties. Such agreements are in breach of EU rules” (Article 101).
However, both Apple and Amazon have said they plan to appeal against the fines.
“To ensure our customers purchase genuine products, we work closely with our reseller partners and have dedicated teams of experts around the world who work with law enforcement, customs and merchants to ensure only genuine Apple products are being sold,” Apple said in a statement to Reuters, denying any wrongdoing.
In a separate statement, Amazon expressed its vehement disagreement with the Italian authority, calling the decision “disproportionate and unjustified.”
“We reject the suggestion that Amazon benefits by excluding sellers from our store, since our business model relies on their success,” Amazon said.
“As a result of the agreement, Italian customers can find the latest Apple and Beats products in our store, benefiting from a catalogue that more than doubled, with better deals and faster shipping.”
