Spain says Apple and Amazon delayed contract changes
Spain's regulator ruled Apple and Amazon delayed removing anti-competitive clauses. New fines may follow as the firms did not fully comply until May 2025.
The competition regulator in Spain[Country:{ "assets":{ "country":"ES" } }] has ruled that Apple Inc.[Symbol:{ "assets":{ "symbol":"AAPL" } }] and Amazon.com, Inc.[Symbol:{ "assets":{ "symbol":"AMZN" } }] failed to promptly comply with an order to remove anti-competitive clauses from their distribution contracts. In July 2023, the CNMC watchdog imposed fines totaling 194 million euros ($228 million) on the two companies for restricting the number of Apple resellers on Amazon's Spanish website.
The regulator recently found that the companies failed to refine these contracts in a timely manner, an infringement that could lead to additional financial penalties. The original 2023 ruling also alleged that the clauses limited advertising space for Apple's competitors and prevented Amazon from running marketing campaigns that offered Apple customers products from rival brands. Although a cease-and-desist order was issued, the regulator noted that the companies did not fully remove the offending clauses until May 2025.
At the time, the regulator said there were indications of an infringement as a result of non-compliance.
Currently, the initial 194 million euro fine remains suspended while the companies appeal the decision before the High Court. The latest findings by the CNMC suggest that further legal and financial consequences may follow if the delay in compliance is formally confirmed as a secondary infringement.
