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Germany: Amazon, eBook feud catches EU attention

By  |  July 11, 2014

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has reportedly notified complainants against Amazon’s relationship with eBook publishers that their case has been brought to the attention of the European Commission.

Germany’s booksellers association filed a complaint with the Office in pursuit of an investigation into Amazon and the contracts the association claims are anticompetitive and unfairly forced on eBook publishers. The feud escalated when Amazon deliberately delayed deliveries of Bonnier published books to force the publisher to accept lower eBook prices, reports say.

Now, the European Commission is eyeing the matter, the Office said Friday. According to the EU regulator, officials are “trying to understand the issues involved.” No formal investigation into the matter has been launched, however.

Full content: Bloomberg

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