Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Amazon being investigated in the EU over antitrust concerns regarding ebook sales

By

Amazon cancels live TV streaming plans
Ken Wolter / Shutterstock
In April the European Commission charged Google over manipulating search results, and now another large U.S. tech company has come under fire. This time Amazon is the company being investigated.

Today the European Commission issued a press release stating that it had launched a formal investigation into “certain business practices” by Amazon. These business practices relate to clauses in Amazon’s ebook contracts requiring publishers to notify them if they offer a competitor a better deal.

Recommended Videos

In a way it’s similar to the price matching that some retailers offer, but in reverse: Amazon wants to make sure that it “offered terms at least as good as those for its competitors.” Whether or not this is taking place isn’t in question — the investigation is focused on whether or not this is anti-competitive.

Related

“Amazon has developed a successful business that offers consumers a comprehensive service, including for e-books. Our investigation does not call that into question,” EU Commissioner in charge of competition policy Margrethe Vestager said. “However, it is my duty to make sure that Amazon’s arrangements with publishers are not harmful to consumers, by preventing other e-book distributors from innovating and competing effectively with Amazon. Our investigation will show if such concerns are justified.”

On the one hand, it’s understandable that Amazon wants to ensure that it is offered as good a deal as its competition, but as the largest ebook distributor in Europe, it could be argued that it already has a number of advantages over its competitors. This investigation will focus on “whether such clauses may hinder the level playing field and potentially decrease competition between different e-book distributors to the detriment of consumers.”

Amazon is not the first company to be investigated in the EU over ebook sales. In 2011 the European Commission investigated Apple and five major international publishers including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins over colluding to “limit retail price competition for e-books in the EEA.” Eventually all of the companies involved settled.

It’s not clear at this point how long the present investigation will last. The Commission points out that there is no “legal deadline” for it to complete its inquiries.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
House antitrust investigation targets Facebook, Google, and other tech giants
facebook twitter enough revenge porn congress

House Democrats set their sights on major tech firms on Monday, announcing a major antitrust investigation into Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon. While not limited to the four companies, the lawmakers want to determine if Silicon Valley’s biggest companies prevent competition and hurt consumers.

At the investigation's core is the idea that “the internet is broken,” Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) told reporters. The Democrat from Rhode Island plans to hold a series of hearings on whether the companies are too big and have too much control over the market.

Read more
Advocacy group asks FTC to investigate if Amazon Echo Dot spies on kids
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition review

Amazon has recently come under fire for potentially invasive practices of its Alexa voice assistant, and now an advocacy group has raised concerns that the company's devices may be spying on kids. The Campaign for A Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) filed a complaint with the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asking it to look into potential privacy violations that Amazon may be committing with its Echo Dot Kids Edition smart speaker.

According to the advocacy group, Amazon's smart speaker designed for children may be storing personal information of children. In a test of Alexa's "Remember Me" feature, the group asked the voice assistant on the Echo Dot Kids Edition to remember information like a social security number, home address, and phone number. The speaker obliged, as one might expect. But after the group attempted to delete the information from the device, they found that it still was able to recall those personal details without issue. The group tried multiple ways to delete the data but to no avail.

Read more
Best Fitbit deals: Save on Versa 4, Charge 6, and Sense 2
The Fitbit Sense 2 in moss.

One of the best fitness trackers is a great way to up your workout, though they can get expensive. Even with the current Apple deals, Apple Watch deals, and Samsung Galaxy Watch deals things can get a little expensive. Fitbit is a good fitness tracker brand to turn to if you’re looking for affordability. It has a great lineup of options, and Fitbit watches are almost always seeing a deal. In fact, right now Fitbit deals make for some of the best smartwatch deals you can shop. Below you’ll find what we feel are the best Fitbit deals to shop right now. There are several models to choose from for some savings, as well as a great deal on the Fitbit Charge 4.
Today's best Fitbit deal
Fitbit Charge 4 -- $125, was $150

While there are newer Fitbit Charge models on the market that include both the Fitbit Charge 5 and the Fitbit Charge 6, the Fitbit Charge 4 still has a lot to offer. It has all sorts of fitness and activity tracking capabilities. It can measure your resting heart rate and calorie burn throughout the day, as well as your SpO2 nightly average. The Charge 4 also uses built-in GPS to see your pace and distance during outdoor runs, rides, hikes, and other activities. You can head out for a long hike with this smartwatch, as the Charge 5 can last up to seven days on a single battery charge, and up to five hours when GPS is being used.

Read more