Amazon made public commitments to change behaviours concerning non-public seller data, Buy Box and Prime programme
Amazon has publicly committed to changing behaviors related to non-public seller data, the Buy Box feature, and the Prime program, in response to European Commission antitrust cases. Amazon will refrain from using non-public seller data to compete with them, ensure fair treatment for all sellers in Buy Box rankings, and allow Prime sellers to choose logistics without discrimination. The Commission is seeking public feedback on Amazon’s proposed commitments.
In a bid to get the European Commission to drop two antitrust cases, Amazon made public a commitment proposal that would forwardly comply with key obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Commission’s investigation targeted three fronts of Amazon’s business practices: the use of non-public seller data, the Buy Box feature and the Prime programme. Amazon’s main commitments in response are as follows:
- Use of non-public data: Amazon will refrain from using non-public seller data (including when combined with non-seller data) relating to, or derived from, the activities of independent sellers on its marketplace to compete with them in its own retailing business.
- Buy Box: Amazon will apply equal treatment to all sellers when ranking their offers to select the Buy Box winner; in addition, Amazon will display a second competing offer to the Buy Box winner in certain conditions to enhance consumer choices.
- Prime programme: Amazon will allow Prime sellers to choose their own logistics and delivery service carriers without any discriminative disadvantages; Amazon will not use the information on the performance and terms of third-party carriers for its own competing logistics services.
The Commission is inviting comments from the public on Amazon’s commitments.
Sources: Euractiv, European Commission