Apple and Amazon Face Consumer Lawsuit Over Alleged Price Fixing

A consumer lawsuit against Apple and Amazon has been revived in the UK after a tribunal allowed part of the case to proceed. The claims, which date back to 2018, allege that Apple and Amazon agreed to limit which sellers could offer Apple-branded products on Amazon's UK website, reducing competition and inflating prices.

The lawsuit, refiled by Justin Le Patourel after a similar claim was initially rejected last year, alleges that the agreement between Apple and Amazon led to higher prices for consumers buying Apple products through Amazon. The tribunal allowed claims relating to Apple products bought through Amazon's marketplace to proceed, but rejected broader claims covering products bought directly from Apple and other retailers.

The potential value of the case is estimated to be between £289 million ($383 million) and £306 million, including interest. An Apple spokesperson said that the company 'strongly disagreed' with the claims, stating that their aim in reaching the agreement with Amazon was to tackle counterfeit products on the marketplace and improve customers' experience.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.