Federal Trade Commission Targets Amazon in Antitrust Lawsuit
Background
The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with 17 state attorneys general, announced a landmark lawsuit against Amazon for “illegally maintaining monopoly power.”
In April 2021, a coalition of independent business associations across the country joined together to advocate against monopoly power harming small businesses and launched the Small Business Rising Coalition, which has grown to represent over 300,000 small businesses.
The coalition formed with the organizing support of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, which has long called for policymakers to address the leading perpetrators of corporate concentration — like Amazon and Walmart.
While Congress has failed to pass meaningful legislation to address Amazon’s power, our coalition partners have continued to call for action. In September 2023, the FTC announced a lawsuit targeting Amazon’s antitrust violations and harms to small business sellers on its platform.
This is the most significant challenge to Amazon’s dominance in our economy to date.
Take Action
Share your story as a small business owner or community member impacted by Amazon.
Urge your legislators to support the FTC’s suit (via Main Street Alliance).
Join our email list for updates.
For media inquiries, please contact media[at]smallbusinessrising.net
The Complaint: FTC v. Amazon
US judge sets October 2026 trial for FTC antitrust suit against Amazon — 2/13/2024
Amazon files motion to dismiss — 12/8/2023
Partially unredacted full FTC complaint — 11/2/2023
[Redacted] The full 172-page complaint — 9/26/2023
The Federal Antitrust Case Against Amazon: An Explainer — Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Sep 2023
Relevant Press
New unsealed documents in FTC’s antitrust Amazon suit reveal details — The Seattle Times, Nov 3, 2023
Amazon Used Secret ‘Project Nessie’ Algorithm to Raise Prices — The Wall Street Journal, Oct 3, 2023
Amazon’s Most Beloved Features May Turn Out to Be Illegal — The Daily by The New York Times, Oct 2, 2023
The FTC Is Suing Amazon. Here's What You Need to Know and How Sellers Are Responding - Inc., Sep 29, 2023
Amazon faces lawsuit in landmark monopoly case — CBS Mornings, Sep 28, 2023 (featuring Danny Caine — bookstore owner and Board Member at American Booksellers Association)
Examining what it's like for some of the sellers who market their goods on Amazon — NPR, Sep 28, 2023
Reports + Studies
Amazon’s Monopoly Tollbooth in 2023 — Institute for Local Self-Reliance
ABA Urges FTC and DOJ to Target Amazon’s Books Monopoly — American Booksellers Association
Unfulfilled: Amazon and the American Retail Landscape — American Booksellers Association
Snapshot: Amazon Marketplace Sellers — 2022 Independent Business Survey — Institute for Local Self-Reliance
“Amazon’s Grip is Crushing Us”: Stories and Testimonials from Amazon Sellers — Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Quotes + Testimonials
““Amazon presents itself as a partner, but in reality, it’s a competitor that steals proprietary information and uses it to put third-party sellers out of business. The company’s ‘blending’ of its various lines of business lies at the root of all the problems small businesses have with Amazon. I would still be in business if it wasn’t for Amazon. I applaud the FTC for finally taking action.””
““Concentrated market power is the single biggest threat facing small, independent businesses. Amazon, in particular, has a long track record of bullying small businesses, stealing their best ideas, and saddling them with exorbitant fees. Each year that Amazon has grown, my business has shrunk.””
““I’m not sure another example exists of a retailer operating at a gross loss for more than a few months. Amazon can only afford to do this by charging ever more fees to third-party sellers and customers of AWS. This case from antitrust authorities is critical to ensuring businesses like mine can sell fairly online.””
““More and more of Distil Union’s dollars go to Amazon fees. In a way, we fund their lobbying efforts – including those that make it harder for us to maintain a profitable business. We are thrilled regulators are taking action to make Amazon more fair for small businesses.””
““Amazon’s anti-competitive tactics disrupt nearly every part of my industry, and that’s unfair. It makes it harder for a bookstore like The Raven to compete. At times, it’s impossible. We need vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws so small businesses like mine can compete, thrive, and enrich the lives of their workers and their communities. We support the FTC’s case.””
