London – On Monday, the Competition Appeal Tribunal gave the green light for a segment of a consumer class action targeting Apple and Amazon over alleged anti‑competitive practices on Amazon’s UK marketplace. The tribunal found the claims that Apple products sold through Amazon were subject to restrictive seller agreements “plausible, credible and grounded in the facts,” allowing those claims to move forward.

Allegations and potential damages

The lawsuit contends that in 2018 Apple and Amazon entered an agreement that limited which third‑party sellers could list Apple and Beats‑branded goods on Amazon.co.uk. By narrowing the pool of sellers, the plaintiffs argue the arrangement reduced competition and pushed prices higher for UK shoppers.

According to the claimant, the portion of the case now allowed could be worth between £289 million and £306 million, interest included. The tribunal, however, dismissed a broader claim that sought damages for Apple products bought directly from Apple or other retailers, describing that theory as “complex and speculative.”

Background and procedural history

The case originally stemmed from a consumer‑law academic, Christine Riefa, who filed a similar suit last year. That effort was blocked due to concerns over the proposed class representative and the funding structure for the litigation. The claim was later re‑filed by Justin Le Patourel, who took over as the representative of the affected consumers.

Judge Kelyn Bacon noted that there is a realistic basis for arguing that the alleged reseller restrictions could have led to higher prices for consumers purchasing Apple products through Amazon’s platform. Yet, she also emphasized that, at this stage, there is insufficient evidence to prove that the same conduct inflated prices for Apple products sold through Apple’s own stores or other retail channels.

Implications for UK consumers and the tech market

If the case proceeds to trial and the plaintiffs succeed, the ruling could set a precedent for how major tech firms structure their marketplace relationships in the United Kingdom. It may also encourage tighter scrutiny of similar agreements that could limit competition and harm consumer choice.

Both Apple and Amazon have not commented publicly on the tribunal’s decision at this time.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.