Amazon must face UK class action over marketplace sales

Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled on September 28 that part of a consumer class action against Amazon and Apple can proceed. The lawsuit focuses on a 2018 arrangement that allegedly restricted which merchants could sell Apple and Beats products on Amazon's UK marketplace.

The tribunal narrowed the lawsuit, throwing out claims tied to products bought directly from Apple or from other retailers after Judge Kelyn Bacon called that reasoning speculative. The surviving marketplace claims are valued at between £289 million and £306 million, including interest. Judge Bacon described those remaining allegations as plausible, credible, and grounded in the facts.

Apple said it strongly disagrees with the allegations, and certification does not represent a finding of liability. Amazon holds a market valuation of about $2.7 trillion, while Apple is valued close to $4.9 trillion. On Monday, Amazon shares closed at $246.15 and Apple closed at $338.40.