Amazon wins partial dismissal of US antitrust lawsuit

Amazon wins partial dismissal of US antitrust lawsuit
Reuters

Amazon wins a partial dismissal of the FTC lawsuit accusing it of monopolistic practices, though key details remain sealed. The FTC claims Amazon used anti-competitive tactics to dominate online marketplaces. The case will proceed in two parts, with some allegations allowed to continue.

Amazon.com Inc. achieved a partial win in its legal case against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with a Seattle federal court dismissing part of the antitrust lawsuit on Monday. While the details of the decision have not been fully revealed, the FTC alleges that Amazon has used unfair tactics to preserve its control over online retail and marketplaces. In response, Amazon had pushed for the case's dismissal last December, arguing that the FTC has not shown any consumer harm from its practices.

The FTC claimed last year that Amazon's use of an algorithm had caused U.S. households to spend over $1 billion more on products in its vast online store, which lists over 1 billion items.

Amazon countered in court filings, stating that it had discontinued the program back in 2019. In a sealed decision, Judge Chun partially approved Amazon's request to dismiss the case. However, court records show that the FTC can still pursue claims that were not fully dismissed by the judge.

Judge Chun ruled that the case against Amazon will be split into two trials, rejecting the company’s request to combine the FTC’s evidence and proposed remedies into one. The FTC claims Amazon stifles competition, while Amazon defends its practices as beneficial to consumers.

This lawsuit is part of a larger antitrust push against Big Tech, including cases against Meta, Apple, and Google.

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