In 2020, the Competition Authority imposed a historic €1.1 billion fine on Apple for anti-competitive practices. The American giant had appealed this decision. This Thursday, the Paris Court of Appeal lowered the amount of the fine to 372 million euros.
The reason can be explained by “the dismissal of one of the three main grievances
blamed Apple. The court also lowered the rate that had been used in 2020 to set the amount of the fine,” he specifies. Reuters.
In 2020, the Competition Authority criticized the US group for its “agreement within its distribution network” and “abuse of economic dependence on its independent resellers”.
Distribution Agreements
Isabelle de Silva, then president of the Competition Authority, had specified that “Apple and its two wholesalers Tech Data and Ingram Micro agreed not to compete and to prevent distributors from competing with each other, thus sterilizing the wholesale market for Apple products.”
As a result, those dealers with an advantage in this market led to an alignment of retail prices between Apple’s integrated dealers and independent premium dealers.
Also according to Reuters, Apple plans to appeal, so that this fine of 372 million euros is annulled.
Source: BFM TV
