Apple: antitrust fines reduced and annulled in France and Italy

Apple: antitrust fines reduced and annulled in France and Italy

Paris, Oct. 7, 2022

A Paris appeals court has reduced the €1.1 billion antitrust fine imposed on Apple to €372 million ($366.3 million)in fines. The French antitrust authority had first imposed the fine in 2020, accusing Apple of anti-competitive behavior toward its retail and distribution network.

According to the French competition authority, Apple imposes prices on its authorized resellers in France to bring them more in line with prices on its own website and in retail stores.

The decision stems from a dispute between Apple and a French wholesaler that claimed it had gone bankrupt. On Thursday, an appeals court reportedly dropped one of the three main charges, which related to allegations of price fixing. The court also lowered the sentence used to calculate the overall penalty.

Similarly, an Italian appeals court cancelled a multi-million dollar fine against Apple and Amazon for alleged price fixing. The original fine of 203 million euros was reduced earlier this year before being cancelled altogether this week.