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Bundeskartellamt proceedings against Amazon: what they mean for sellers

TL;DRThe German competition authority has run several proceedings against Amazon over its treatment of marketplace sellers, and the commitments that followed changed how account terminations and disputes are handled in Europe. For an EU or UK seller this is background that can be used, carefully, in a statement-of-reasons complaint or a regulator submission. The briefings below put the precedent in operational context.

By Dmitri Aronov, Partner, EU Marketplace Regulation Updated

Guides and analysis on this topic

The pages below are the briefings our team has published on this question, ordered from the broadest guide to the most specific. Each opens with a short answer you can read in isolation.

Where this fits in the EU practice

This topic sits inside our EU practice. The full library for the practice, grouped by format, is on the practice page, and every article is searchable on Insights. If your notice, deadline or held balance does not match any of the pages above, that is usually a sign the matter needs a direct read rather than a general guide.

Page curated by Dmitri Aronov, Partner, EU Marketplace Regulation, Tutamen.

FAQ

How long does resolving bundeskartellamt proceedings and sellers usually take on Amazon ES?
Resolution time depends on which procedural route is used and how promptly the platform responds. An internal complaint through the DSA-compliant mechanism, where Amazon engages substantively, can reach an outcome within several weeks. Regulatory escalation to the Spanish Digital Services Coordinator or the European Commission is a longer process, measured in months. A well-documented complaint at every stage shortens the timeline; a restart after an unsuccessful informal attempt extends it.
What are the main risks if I handle bundeskartellamt proceedings and sellers alone?
The primary risks are procedural: responding to the restriction on the platform's terms rather than on EU legal terms, failing to use the formal DSA complaint mechanism before escalating, and not preserving documentation within the first 24 to 48 hours. A seller who submits a Plan of Action in response to a notice that lacks a compliant P2B Regulation statement of reasons may accept the platform's framing of the dispute, which is difficult to walk back at a later stage.
Do I need a lawyer for bundeskartellamt proceedings and sellers?
Not automatically. A straightforward restriction with a clear statement of reasons can often be handled by a well-organized seller using formal EU complaint mechanisms. Specialist help becomes valuable when the notice is vague or non-compliant, when the restriction connects to platform conduct under regulatory scrutiny, when a first complaint has failed, or when the commercial stakes are material. Tutamen offers a fixed scoping review for EU marketplace situations, with fees quoted up front.

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