Apple and Amazon Under Investigation in Spain for Possible Anti-Competitive Practices

by

Apple and Amazon are facing antitrust disciplinary proceedings in Spain for possible restrictive competition practices around the sale of Apple products, it has emerged.

CNMC spain
In a press release, the country's National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) said it had initiated the proceedings against both companies for "possible anti-competition practices in the sectors of Internet sales of electronic products and the provision of marketing services to third-party retailers through online platforms."

The independent consumer interest body said it had access to "certain information" from which it had found "rational indications" that Amazon and Apple are in breach of laws related to the defense of competition and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Specifically:

The possible unlawful conduct would consist of an agreement between both groups that would include possible restrictions on the Amazon website in Spain regarding:

(i) The retail sale of APPLE products by third parties;
(ii) Certain advertising of competing Apple products and certain campaigns directed at Apple customers by Amazon;
(iii) Other commercial restrictions.

The CNMC announcement does not prejudge the final result of the investigation, which will occur over a maximum period of 18 months before a final resolution is made.

Tags: Amazon, Apple Antitrust, Spain

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Read Full Article • 88 comments
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Read Full Article
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Read Full Article • 25 comments
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Read Full Article • 137 comments
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching. In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...
Read Full Article • 43 comments

Top Rated Comments

Jglez Avatar
Jglez
60 months ago
Lol, I am the first one to be critical of governments when they do something stupid, but seeing the comments here I feel like the following needs to be made clear, before other funny theories are posted:


* Spain is a western nation within the EU. The judicial system works independent from politics and is rule-based (not opinion based). Therefore a charge against Apple/Amazon can only be made if they broke one of the rules, if they didn’t then the judicial system cannot charge them, and even if they did it wouldn’t be held up in court. Therefore the theory that this is them looking for funds is ridiculous. Obviously if they broke a rule (in other words law) of course they should be charged and punished for such.
* As hurt as the economy might be in Spain due to the pandemic, they are the biggest receiver of EU funds (in the billions) for economic recovery. The costs therefore for the goverment are covered for the years to come, even if they have lost in taxes collected like every other country on earth during the pandemic.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bollman Avatar
bollman
60 months ago
Don't try to sway the Apple apologists with facts, it's no use ;)
Apple can do no harm, any investigation into Apple's business practices is only a money grab, nothing else. Please remember that :P
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jglez Avatar
Jglez
60 months ago

Is "National Commission on Markets and Competition" part of their Judicial system or just a government commission?
CNMC is independent from the government, has judicial power and is under parliamentary control.

They explain the structure on their own website. Here is the page. ('https://www.cnmc.es/sobre-la-cnmc/que-es-la-cnmc')
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
project_2501 Avatar
project_2501
60 months ago
All those people thinking this is about Spain wanting to find money are living in iCloud cuckoo land.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justperry Avatar
justperry
60 months ago

#ustoo. Apple should just keep increasing the price of iPhones in yuropoor. All these useless lawsuits hurt consumers, not help.

p.s. I am from Europe and currently live in Europe. Apple and Amazon are the least of these corrupt countries' concerns.
So, in essence, you like lawlessness.

Fines should be given any time a person or a company breaks the law.
If Amazon/Apple broke the law they should be fined.

I get sick of these people here claiming country X needs cash, mostly in the EU, mostly from Apple can do no harm US posters, and no, I am not sorry to say it this way, those posters are being just ridiculous is an understatement.


It's ok. It's just the Spanish government looking for any possible source of funds.

They are broke so they are searching everywhere.....
Did you forgot the sarcasm emoji or is this comment for real, if real, you can't possibly be serious.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jglez Avatar
Jglez
60 months ago

Did you just say Spain has a reliable judicial system? It's corrupt to the core.

I say this as somebody who lives in Spain, runs two businesses and deals with the judicial system constantly.
That's your opinion.
Factually speaking the Spanish judicial system has been reviewed many thousands of times and it comes out in the rankings every year just as high as every other EU country.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments