UK tribunal lets part of Apple-Amazon consumer claim proceed

The three-judge tribunal ruled on Monday that claims covering Apple products bought through Amazon's marketplace could continue, while rejecting a wider claim concerning devices purchased directly from Apple and from other retailers.

The case alleges that Apple and Amazon reached an agreement in 2018 that limited which sellers were permitted to list Apple and Beats-branded products on Amazon's UK website, an arrangement the claimants say reduced competition and pushed prices higher.

A largely similar action brought last year by consumer law academic Christine Riefa was refused permission to proceed, with the tribunal raising concerns about the proposed class representative and the litigation funding arrangements behind it.

The claim was subsequently refiled by Justin Le Patourel, who took over from Riefa as the proposed representative of the consumers involved.