Germany’s Federal Cartel Office announced Wednesday that it has closed its antitrust investigation into sportswear maker Adidas.
Reports say the company was under fire for refusing to sell its products on certain online marketplaces. German officials said Adidas has agreed to have its products sold on those sites now, leading to the Office to end the probe.
Since 2012, Adidas had looked to control its image by permitting authorized retailers only to sell its products online. Sites that could not sell Adidas products included Amazon and eBay, reports say.
But while Adidas scored a win in Germany, competition troubles have sprouted elsewhere for the brand.
UK-based sports retailer Sports Direct is reportedly targeting Adidas for what it calls anticompetitive behavior.
Reports say the retailer has reported Adidas to competition regulators after Adidas refused to supply Sports Direct with World Cup merchandise and other products. In return, Sports Direct is said to have taken the matter to the Competition and Markets Authority.
The store would only confirm that it is “active” with regulators regarding the situation, however.
The reports follow just days after Adidas said in an interview that it is willing to work with Sports Direct but there will have to be some negotiating. Sports Direct slammed the comments as “disingenuous.”
Full content: The Telegraph and Wall Street Journal
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
DOJ and FTC Introduce Website for Reporting Anti-Competitive Healthcare Practices
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
US Congress Advances Legislation to Compel TikTok Sale
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
UK Financial Sector Advocates Enhanced Regulatory Accountability
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
Google and All 50 States Defend $700 Million Consumer Settlement
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
Colorado Enacts First Law to Protect Consumer Brainwave Data
Apr 18, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI