Cnmc Launches Disciplinary Proceedings Against Apple And Amazon

What happened

Spain's competition watchdog, CNMC, opened disciplinary proceedings against Apple and Amazon after they failed to follow a July 2023 order to stop anti-competitive contract clauses in Amazon's role as an Apple distributor, taking no action until May 2025.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

The case shows regulators can keep pressing companies even after fines are issued. A finding of non-compliance could mean more penalties, more legal costs, and pressure to rewrite distribution contracts, which affects profit and how both companies sell devices in Spain.

Analyst inference

Both prior decisions are under appeal at Spain's National High Court, so legal risk stays open for years. While the appeals are pending, the watchdog's new probe can advance, keeping pressure on the companies and showing that competition enforcement in Europe remains active.

Analyst inference

What to watch

1. The CNMC now has up to three months to investigate the case and issue its resolution, which could determine whether further penalties follow. Confirmed
2. Watch whether Apple and Amazon change their distributor contract terms in Spain, because regulators said no remedial steps were taken until May 2025. Proposed
3. Track the parallel appeals at the National High Court; a ruling against the companies could raise legal costs and force faster contract changes. Analyst inference

Evidence

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