Brussels, BELGIUM – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe) released the following statement in light of today’s announcement that the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) is investigating Amazon’s pricing mechanism.
The case concerns mechanisms designed to protect consumers by highlighting competitively priced products and filtering out excessively overpriced listings in Amazon’s online store, while still allowing sellers to set their own prices. While not yet final, today’s statement of objections is widely expected to largely reflect the final decision, due in the next few months.
The following can be attributed to Senior Vice President and Head of CCIA Europe, Daniel Friedlaender:
“This investigation raises a red flag for the entire digital sector. These same pricing mechanisms were previously reviewed and cleared by the European Commission. When national authorities such as the Bundeskartellamt directly contradict EU-level decisions, it creates serious legal uncertainty for companies operating across borders in Europe.”
“The Bundeskartellamt’s move to challenge consumer-friendly practices – already vetted at the EU level – risks fragmenting the Single Market. That hurts everyone: consumers lose out and it complicates life for any digital business trying to do business in Europe. Without predictable, consistent rules, the EU digital economy will struggle to grow.”
