EU opens antitrust probe into Amazon e-book distribution

(ANSA) - Brussels, June 11 - The European Commission announced Thursday that it will open an investigation into online retail giant Amazon's e-book distribution, in light of contractual clauses that will be examined for possible anti-trust violations.
    The clauses in question require publishers to inform Amazon about agreements they have that could favor industry competitors, and to offer Amazon the same conditions.
    While not calling into question Amazon's service quality or success, EC competition policy chief Margrethe Vestager said "It is my duty to make sure that Amazon's arrangements with publishers are not harmful to consumers, by preventing other e-book distributors from innovating and competing effectively with Amazon".