In 2018, Apple and Amazon signed an agreement that took effect on January 1st, 2019. Under the terms of the agreement, Amazon would allow only Apple-authorized sellers to sell Apple products on Amazon’s marketplace. In return, Apple would supply Amazon with a steady supply of discounted Apple products. In other words, Apple would ship discounted devices to Amazon as long as Amazon reduced the number of resellers selling lower-priced Apple products in its marketplace.
A U.S. District Judge says that a class-action suit against Amazon and Apple can proceed
The court filing explains that the plaintiff, Steven Floyd, purchased an iPad from the Amazon Marketplace for $319.99 on February 26, 2021. The suit alleges that Floyd paid an inflated price for his iPad due to the agreement between Apple and Amazon which “eliminate[d] or at least substantially reduce[d] the competitive threat posed by third-party merchants.”
The suit seeks triple damages and other compensation.
