BRUSSELS: The European Commission opened a formal antitrust investigation into Amazon’s e-book business, opening yet another front in mounting EU scrutiny of America’s global tech giants.
The investigation adds to the pressure on the online retailer in Europe, where it is already being investigated for the low tax rates it pays in Luxembourg.
The Commission said it would look in particular into certain clauses included in Amazon’s contracts with publishers.
These clauses, it said, required publishers to inform Amazon about more favourable or alternative terms offered to Amazon’s competitors, a means to ensure Amazon is offered terms at least as good as those of its competitors.
The Commission said this could violate EU antitrust rules that prohibit abuses of a dominant market position and restrictive business practises.
