DC’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon has been revived

An appeals court has revived the District of Columbia’s antitrust case against Amazon, which the district claims illegally raises prices on rival platforms. Decision on ThursdayThe D.C. Appeals Court ruled that the district’s allegations “plausibly suggest” that Amazon already has monopoly power over the online marketplace or is close to achieving it.

Former DC Attorney General Karl Racine Antitrust lawsuit filed against Amazon in 2021, but it Dismissed in court in 2022The lawsuit alleges that Amazon engages in anti-competitive behavior by preventing third-party sellers from offering products on other online stores, including its own websites, at a price lower than the price they charge on Amazon – effectively controlling the price of items outside of its own platform.

Although Amazon in 2019 rolled back a policy that required sellers to offer products at the lowest prices on its online marketplace, the lawsuit argues that Amazon’s Fair pricing policy This means “effectively identical substitution.”

Amazon, no surprise, Amazon does not agree with the court’s decision to send the case back to the market. “Like any store owner who wouldn’t want to promote a bad deal to their customers, we do not highlight or promote offers that are not competitively priced,” Amazon spokesman Tim Doyle said in a statement. The Verge“This is part of our commitment to offering lower prices to win and retain customer trust, which we believe is the right decision for both consumers and sellers in the long run.”

Amazon also faces an antitrust investigation from the Federal Trade Commission. filed a huge lawsuit against Amazon claims that its monopoly power stifles competition and harms consumers.