Spain's antitrust watchdog says Apple, Amazon took too long to refine anti-competitive contracts

MADRID, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Apple and Amazon took too long to remove anti-competitive clauses they ‌were ordered to immediately remove from contracts ‌outlining Amazon's conditions as an Apple distributor, Spain's competition regulator ruled ​on Wednesday.

The CNMC regulator had slapped fines totalling 194 million euros ($228 million) on the two companies in July 2023 over those clauses - which it said ‌unfairly restricted the number ⁠of Apple resellers on Amazon's website in Spain - and ordered their immediate removal. ⁠The latest finding of infringement could attract a fresh fine.

The regulator had also alleged at the time ​that the ​clauses limited the spaces ​on Amazon's Spanish website ‌where Apple competitors' products could be advertised and prevented Amazon from running marketing campaigns offering Apple customers competing products from other brands.

Last October, the watchdog proposed opening a new probe over the companies' ‌failure to take action under ​the cease-and-desist order until May ​2025 when they ​removed the clauses.

At the time, the regulator ‌said there were indications of ​an infringement ​as a result of non-compliance.

The companies appealed the CNMC's 2023 decision before the country's High ​Court and the ‌original fine has been suspended pending judgement.

($1 = ​0.8493 euros)

(Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Charlie ​Devereux and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)