Amazon Faces Potential 30 Million-Reader Antitrust Class Over Alleged E-Book Price Fixing

A federal magistrate judge has recommended certification of an antitrust class action lawsuit against Amazon, which could potentially include over 30 million e-book customers. The case alleges that Amazon overcharged consumers by more than $740 million due to its alleged monopolization of the e-book market.

The proposed class covers consumers who purchased at least one qualifying trade e-book through Amazon's agency model between January 14, 2017, and an unspecified certification date. According to plaintiffs' expert Dr. Jamie McClave, customers paid more than $740 million above what they would have paid in a competitive market.

The lawsuit has undergone significant changes since its initial filing in 2021, with the dismissal of publishers from the case and the elimination of certain claims against Amazon. The company is fighting certification, arguing that individual differences between consumers make class-wide treatment improper.