Apple and Amazon Under Investigation in Spain for Possible Anti-Competitive Practices

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Apple and Amazon are facing antitrust disciplinary proceedings in Spain for possible restrictive competition practices around the sale of Apple products, it has emerged.

CNMC spain
In a press release, the country's National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) said it had initiated the proceedings against both companies for "possible anti-competition practices in the sectors of Internet sales of electronic products and the provision of marketing services to third-party retailers through online platforms."

The independent consumer interest body said it had access to "certain information" from which it had found "rational indications" that Amazon and Apple are in breach of laws related to the defense of competition and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Specifically:

The possible unlawful conduct would consist of an agreement between both groups that would include possible restrictions on the Amazon website in Spain regarding:

(i) The retail sale of APPLE products by third parties;
(ii) Certain advertising of competing Apple products and certain campaigns directed at Apple customers by Amazon;
(iii) Other commercial restrictions.

The CNMC announcement does not prejudge the final result of the investigation, which will occur over a maximum period of 18 months before a final resolution is made.

Tags: Amazon, Apple Antitrust, Spain

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Top Rated Comments

Jglez Avatar
Jglez
60 months ago
Lol, I am the first one to be critical of governments when they do something stupid, but seeing the comments here I feel like the following needs to be made clear, before other funny theories are posted:


* Spain is a western nation within the EU. The judicial system works independent from politics and is rule-based (not opinion based). Therefore a charge against Apple/Amazon can only be made if they broke one of the rules, if they didn’t then the judicial system cannot charge them, and even if they did it wouldn’t be held up in court. Therefore the theory that this is them looking for funds is ridiculous. Obviously if they broke a rule (in other words law) of course they should be charged and punished for such.
* As hurt as the economy might be in Spain due to the pandemic, they are the biggest receiver of EU funds (in the billions) for economic recovery. The costs therefore for the goverment are covered for the years to come, even if they have lost in taxes collected like every other country on earth during the pandemic.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bollman Avatar
bollman
60 months ago
Don't try to sway the Apple apologists with facts, it's no use ;)
Apple can do no harm, any investigation into Apple's business practices is only a money grab, nothing else. Please remember that :P
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jglez Avatar
Jglez
60 months ago

Is "National Commission on Markets and Competition" part of their Judicial system or just a government commission?
CNMC is independent from the government, has judicial power and is under parliamentary control.

They explain the structure on their own website. Here is the page. ('https://www.cnmc.es/sobre-la-cnmc/que-es-la-cnmc')
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
project_2501
60 months ago
All those people thinking this is about Spain wanting to find money are living in iCloud cuckoo land.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justperry Avatar
justperry
60 months ago

#ustoo. Apple should just keep increasing the price of iPhones in yuropoor. All these useless lawsuits hurt consumers, not help.

p.s. I am from Europe and currently live in Europe. Apple and Amazon are the least of these corrupt countries' concerns.
So, in essence, you like lawlessness.

Fines should be given any time a person or a company breaks the law.
If Amazon/Apple broke the law they should be fined.

I get sick of these people here claiming country X needs cash, mostly in the EU, mostly from Apple can do no harm US posters, and no, I am not sorry to say it this way, those posters are being just ridiculous is an understatement.


It's ok. It's just the Spanish government looking for any possible source of funds.

They are broke so they are searching everywhere.....
Did you forgot the sarcasm emoji or is this comment for real, if real, you can't possibly be serious.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jglez Avatar
Jglez
60 months ago

Did you just say Spain has a reliable judicial system? It's corrupt to the core.

I say this as somebody who lives in Spain, runs two businesses and deals with the judicial system constantly.
That's your opinion.
Factually speaking the Spanish judicial system has been reviewed many thousands of times and it comes out in the rankings every year just as high as every other EU country.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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