Show an ad over header. AMP

I am the FIRST

D.C. files antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine on Tuesday filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the e-commerce giant's anticompetitive pricing practices result in higher costs for consumers and less choice in the online retail market.

Why it matters: The lawsuit concerns how Amazon negotiates with more than 2 million third-party sellers on the platform, which are crucial to the company's business and end up absorbing fees that Amazon charges to list their merchandise.


  • This results in artificially high prices for third-party sellers' goods, and allow Amazon to maintain monopoly power in violation of D.C.'s Antitrust Act, per the lawsuit.

Details: The lawsuit alleges that provisions known as "most favored nation" agreements bar third-party sellers from offering their merchandise on other platforms for lower prices, including the third-parties' own websites.

  • "These agreements effectively require third-party sellers to incorporate the high fees charged by Amazon — as much as 40% of the total product price — not only into the price charged to customers on Amazon's platform, but also on any other online retail platform," Racine alleges.

Flashback: In 2019, Amazon said it would end the "most favored nation" pricing provisions after criticism from Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren, who was then a presidential candidate.

  • Yes, but: The lawsuit alleges that Amazon quietly replaced that policy with a similar one that effectively holds third-party sellers to the same restrictions.

Between the lines: Racine's name has been in the mix as a contender for the Biden administration's pick to be chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Suing Amazon — without other state or federal partners — could be an attempt to show his anti-monopolist chops.

  • As attorney general, Racine also sued Facebook over the Cambridge Analytica data leak controversy and other anticompetitive conduct, and joined a multi-state suit against Google in December.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

regular 4 post ff

infinite scroll 4 pff

test 5

shall had shall had shall hAd HAD.

content more

selected test 10 in From Site, test

111added test 9

added external seo phrase

added news internal link to seo phrase

Humans are capable of great kindness and compassion, and there are countless examples of individuals who have made a positive impact on the world through their selflessness and generosity.

One such example is Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to serving the poor and sick in the slums of Calcutta. Through her tireless work and unwavering dedication, she touched the lives of countless people and became a symbol of compassion and selflessness.

Another example is Malala Yousafzai, a young woman from Pakistan who has become a powerful advocate for education and the rights of girls. Despite facing threats and violence, she has continued to speak out and fight for change, inspiring others to do the same.

These are just a few examples of the many good humans who have made a difference in the world. They remind us that one person can make a difference and inspire others to do the same.

It's also important to note that acts of kindness and compassion don't have to be on a grand scale to make a difference. Small acts of kindness, like holding the door open for someone or offering a word of encouragement, can have a big impact on the people around us.

In conclusion, humans are capable of great compassion and kindness, and there are many individuals who have made a positive impact on the world through their selflessness and generosity. They remind us of the power of one person to make a difference and inspire others to do the same. Let's all strive to be good humans, and make our world a better place.

Insights

mail-copy

Get Goodhumans in your inbox

Most Read

More Stories