MADRID, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Apple and Amazon took too long to remove anti-competitive clauses they were ordered to immediately remove from contracts outlining Amazon's conditions as an Apple
Spanish Regulator Criticizes Apple and Amazon for Delays in Clause Removal
MADRID, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Apple and Amazon took too long to take out anti-competitive clauses outlining Amazon's conditions as an Apple distributor that the companies had been told to remove immediately, Spain's competition regulator ruled on Wednesday.
The CNMC regulator fined the two companies 194 million euros ($228 million) in total in July 2023 over those clauses and ordered their immediate removal from distribution contracts. It said they unfairly restricted the number of Apple resellers on Amazon's website in Spain. The latest finding of infringement could mean a further fine.
Regulatory Actions and Allegations
The regulator had also alleged at the time that the clauses limited the spaces on Amazon's Spanish website where Apple competitors' products could be advertised and prevented Amazon from running marketing campaigns offering Apple customers competing products from other brands.
APPLE DISAGREES WITH THE DECISION
In an email statement to Reuters, Apple said it respected the CNMC but disagreed with its decision, adding it had always complied with authorities' orders.
Apple's Response to the Allegations
"We will continue to work to protect our customers from counterfeit products and offer them the assurance that they are receiving a genuine Apple product when they take it out of the box," the company added.
Amazon could not immediately be reached for comment.
Last October, the watchdog proposed opening a new investigation into the companies' failure to take action under the cease-and-desist order until May 2025, which is when they removed the clauses.
Potential New Investigations
At the time, the regulator said there were indications of an infringement as a result of non-compliance.
The companies appealed the CNMC's 2023 decision before the country's High Court and the original fine has been suspended pending judgment.
($1 = 0.8493 euros)
(Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Charlie Devereux, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Barbara Lewis)
