Apple and Beats Products Supplied Only to Select Minority Retailers
Violation of EU Antitrust Regulations on Corporate Collusion
[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Amazon and Apple, which caused unfair trade by supplying products only to a few retailers, have been fined over 270 billion KRW in Italy.
Italy's antitrust authority (AGCM) announced on the 23rd (local time) that it imposed fines of 134.5 million euros (about 180.1 billion KRW) on Apple and 68.7 million euros (about 92 billion KRW) on Amazon, according to local media such as public broadcaster Rai News.
AGCM judged that these companies restricted the sale of Apple and its audio equipment subsidiary 'Beats' products on the Amazon platform only to Amazon itself and a few selected retailers through contracts in 2018, thereby hindering fair competition. This is interpreted as a violation of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which prohibits collusion between companies.
Along with imposing fines, AGCM ordered the immediate cessation of such discriminatory measures. Accordingly, the number of retailers offering products on Amazon in Italy is expected to increase in the future.
Apple is reportedly considering appealing AGCM's decision. In a statement to foreign media, Apple indirectly expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "We have strived to ensure that customers can purchase genuine products."
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