Reuters reports that the Germany antitrust body the Federal Cartel Office has opened an investigation into the arrangement by which Apple purchases audiobooks from Amazon subsidiary Audible for sale in iTunes.
“The two companies have a strong position in the digital offering of audiobooks in Germany. Therefore, we feel compelled to examine the agreement between these two competitors in the audiobooks in more detail,” cartel office chief Andreas Mundt said in a statement.
The piece notes that Apple declined to comment, while Amazon could not be reached for comment.
Apple lost a separate U.S. case in which it was found guilty of anti-competitive behaviour in its ebook sales. The US Justice Department recently agreed that Apple had now properly addressed the issues, though this may not be the end of the battle: Apple is appealing that case to the US Supreme Court.
Full content: Reuters
Featured News
Norton Rose Adds Antitrust Partners in Italy
Jan 20, 2025 by
CPI
Antitrust Lawsuit Over Google’s Search Monopoly Proceeds in CA Court
Jan 20, 2025 by
CPI
Digital Markets Act at Two Years: Enforcement in a Shifting Political Climate
Jan 20, 2025 by
CPI
EU Expands Tech Oversight with Updated Anti-Hate Speech Code
Jan 20, 2025 by
CPI
Cargill Settles Turkey Price-Fixing Lawsuit for $32.5 Million
Jan 20, 2025 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – CRESSE Insights
Dec 19, 2024 by
CPI
Effective Interoperability in Mobile Ecosystems: EU Competition Law Versus Regulation
Dec 19, 2024 by
Giuseppe Colangelo
The Use of Empirical Evidence in Antitrust: Trends, Challenges, and a Path Forward
Dec 19, 2024 by
Eliana Garces
Some Empirical Evidence on the Role of Presumptions and Evidentiary Standards on Antitrust (Under)Enforcement: Is the EC’s New Communication on Art.102 in the Right Direction?
Dec 19, 2024 by
Yannis Katsoulacos
The EC’s Draft Guidelines on the Application of Article 102 TFEU: An Economic Perspective
Dec 19, 2024 by
Benoit Durand