US Federal Government and 17 States Launch Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon | Jurist

In September, over fifteen states and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Amazon for anticompetitive conduct. The FTC described Amazon’s practices as a “monopoly power” in the online superstore and marketplace services. The federal and state governments are requesting that the US District Court for the Western District of Washington stop Amazon from participating in the alleged anticompetitive behaviors and restructure the business to sidestep these behaviors in the future. Some of the behaviors the complaint alleges consist of Amazon maintaining its online control by exclusionary conduct in violation of federal and state law. For example, anti-discounting practices and coercing online sellers to become “Prime eligible” and use “Fulfillment by Amazon.” Additionally, the complaint asserts Amazon’s practices transgress the Federal Trade Commission Act and Sherman Act.

Our complaint lays out how Amazon has used a set of punitive and coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies. The complaint sets forth detailed allegations noting how Amazon is now exploiting its monopoly power to enrich itself while raising prices and degrading service for the tens of millions of American families who shop on its platform and the hundreds of thousands of businesses that rely on Amazon to reach them. Today’s lawsuit seeks to hold Amazon to account for these monopolistic practices and restore the lost promise of free and fair competition.

Source: US federal government and 17 states launch antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

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