Late last year, a class action lawsuit denounced a 2019 agreement between Apple and Amazon in which Amazon agreed to limit the number of Apple resellers on its platform. Apple gave Amazon up to 10% off its products.
U.S. District Judge John Coughenour ultimately denied Apple and Amazon’s motion to dismiss the case on various legal grounds, allowing the case to continue to progress. The case will therefore now move on to the collection of evidence and other preparatory procedures.which will determine whether companies are guilty or not.
Plaintiffs, all of whom purchased an Apple product on the platform after 2019, say the settlement artificially inflates prices and eliminates or lowers any lower prices that may have been provided by third-party vendors.
The plaintiffs’ attorney, Steve Berman, said the court’s decision to dismiss Apple and Amazon’s claims ” Big win for Apple phone and iPad consumers “. Apple’s lawyers said the deal ” banal » and said ” The Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit have consistently recognized that such agreements are pro-competitive and legal. “.
After this, Seattle judge will have to examine motivations” compensatory » Agreement between Apple and Amazon in the context of the dispute. Now it remains to be seen whether Apple and Amazon will be found guilty in this case.