German watchdog probes Apple and Amazon audiobooks agreement

By

Germany's Federal Cartel Office has begun an investigation into Apple Inc's arrangement with Amazon for purchasing audiobooks, the competition watchdog said in a statement on Monday.

It said both companies had a long-term agreement for the purchase of audio books by Apple from Amazon's Audible business for distribution via Apple's iTunes store.

"The two companies have a strong position in the digital offering of audiobooks in Germany. Therefore, we feel compelled to examine the agreement between these two competitors in the audiobooks in more detail," cartel office chief Andreas Mundt said in the statement.

Apple and Amazon-unit Audible declined to comment.

In September ,the association of German book sellers lodged complaints with the watchdog that Amazon and Audible were building a monopoly in the audio book business.

The association said that Amazon and Audible were abusing their dominant market position to force publishers to accept "unreasonable conditions" for the marketing of audio books.

It said more than 90 percent of all downloads of audio books in Germany were made via the Audible or Amazon sites, or via the iTunes store, which is exclusively supplied by Audible.

In June, the European Commission opened an investigation into Amazon's e-book business, examining whether clauses in its contracts prevented publishers from offering more favorable deals to competitors.

Tags
Amazon, Apple, Germany
Join the Discussion
More News
FSU Shooting

Parkland Survivors Faced Second Deadly School Shooting at FSU: 'I Kind of Knew the Drill Already'

Jammacar Rodkesh Gayle

Florida Man Steals Knife From Butcher Counter to Brutally Stab Woman Who Criticized His 'Uncontrolled' Children

Memphis Police

Pregnant Woman Was Ready to Apologize After Her Dog Bit a Child. Then Armed Teens Arrived to Beat Her With Guns

6 Idaho men charged with battery

Idaho Men Who Forcibly Dragged Woman Out of Town Hall Charged With Battery