The European Commission has launched an investigation into Amazon’s ebook business. According to Forbes “the anti-trust probe will delve into the distribution contracts between the retail giant and publishers that potentially safeguard Amazon against competition and diminish the ability of other companies within the e-book space to innovate.”
The EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: “Amazon has developed a successful business that offers consumers a comprehensive service, including for e-books. Our investigation does not call that into question. However, it is my duty to make sure that Amazon’s arrangements with publishers are not harmful to consumers, by preventing other e-book distributors from innovating and competing effectively with Amazon. Our investigation will show if such concerns are justified.”
