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☆ Five takeaways from the FTC's 172-page antitrust lawsuit against Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Washington CNN —An antitrust lawsuit from 17 states and the Federal Trade Commission this week against Amazon represents the US government’s biggest regulatory challenge yet against the e-commerce juggernaut. The landmark case targets Amazon’s retail platform, alleging that it’s harmed shoppers and sellers alike on a massive scale. Here are five of the biggest highlights and takeaways from the plaintiffs’ 172-page lawsuit. Just this month, the FTC added three Amazon officials to a separate consumer protection case dealing with Amazon Prime. Instead, the plaintiffs have to show that Amazon is part of a well-defined geographic and economic market that it dominates.

Persons: Lina Khan, Amazon, David Zapolsky, ” Khan, Khan, Douglas Farrar, ” Farrar, superstores, ” What’s, Jeff Bezos, “, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, US, Walmart, Target, eBay, Amazon Music, Bloomberg News, CNN, Amazon Prime, FTC Locations: Seattle, United States

☆ Taylor Swift is about to make Travis Kelce a whole lot richer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Since Taylor Swift was spotted cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs tight end on Sunday, his profile has skyrocketed. After social media posts earlier this month ignited speculation, rumors of a relationship between the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Taylor Swift have been heating up. AdvertisementAdvertisementKelce's new social media followers, meanwhile, could mean a payoff that lasts longer than a quick fling. As he's moved up the social media ranks — he now has 3.4 million followers, compared with Mahomes' 5.8 million — his earnings could multiply. Swift, by comparison, has 272 million followers on Instagram, and it's likely many of them have different interests frp, Kelce's typical fans.

Persons: Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, —, Donna, Kelce, Jason, Bob Dorfman, Tom Brady, Kelce's, Patrick Mahomes, Sportico, he's, OpenSponsorship, Ishveen Jolly, Jolly, Swift, Dorfman, Chase Garrett, Oprah Winfrey, Dr, Oz, Toni Morrison, Joe Alwyn, Taylor, who's Organizations: Kansas City Chiefs, Service, Arrowhead, SocialBlade, Associated Press, Apple, Pinnacle Advertising, NFL Players Association, US Department of Labor, NFL, Nike, Pfizer, —, Sports, Billboard, Prada, Chiefs, Jets Locations: doesn't, Travis

☆ China's chip equipment firms see revenue surge as Beijing seeks semiconductor self-reliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Washington has sought to use export restrictions to cut off Beijing from key semiconductor equipment and technologies. China's domestic semiconductor industry has previously heavily relied on foreign companies for these tools, leaving Beijing's industry behind the likes of the U.S., South Korea and Taiwan. That has underpinned the boost in revenues for China's domestic chip equipment manufacturing firms. CINNO names Naura Technology Group Co. as the top Chinese semiconductor equipment maker by revenue. The second-largest Chinese domestic player is Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. China (AMEC), which makes machines required for the semiconductor manufacturing process.

Persons: Florence Lo, CINNO Organizations: Reuters Revenue, Semiconductors, U.S, Huawei, China's, Naura Technology, Inc . China Locations: China, Beijing, Shanghai, China . Washington, U.S, South Korea, Taiwan

☆ What retailers have launched U.S. marketplaces since Amazon's FTC antitrust probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, NY, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Amazon faces an antitrust lawsuit by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 state attorneys general for what they call monopolistic pricing to customers and fees to the e-retailers' third-party sellers. The FTC's lawsuit is expected face many hurdles, but will be a warning sign for other online marketplaces that have launched in the U.S. on how to interact with customers and third-party sellers. Here is a list of the retailers who have launched online marketplaces since the FTC began investigating Amazon in 2019. Reporting by Arriana McLymore in New York City; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pascal, Arriana McLymore, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, Thomson Locations: Lauwin, France, NY, U.S, New York City

☆ Jittery markets may tie Dutch insurers' hands
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Dutch insurers NN (NN.AS) and ASR (ASRNL.AS) have lost 3 billion euros of combined market value after court rulings in the Netherlands raised the prospect of large compensation claims. The respective 22% and 16% stock price collapse will put pressure on the two groups to reach a speedy resolution. But customers argue that the insurers marketing these policies failed to disclose how much of their premiums went to actual investments, and how much covered the sellers’ costs. Take Hague-based NN: it has 315,000 active woekerpolissen policies and 581,000 inactive ones, ING reckons. Its 2.1 billion euro market value loss is equivalent to a claim of 2,300 euros per policy.

Persons: Pamela Barbaglia, ’, quagmire, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, ING reckons, JPMorgan reckons, Dutch, X, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Ukraine

☆ Indonesia spoils TikTok’s Southeast Asia party
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sandy Saputra, 19, who is one of TikTok's biggest Indonesian stars, uses his smartphone to record a video using the app in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 24, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan - RC2PMI9KGQ5Q Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Sept 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - June must now feel like an alternate reality to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. On Wednesday, though, President Joko Widodo’s administration banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms. Indonesia is key to TikTok’s hopes of growing its e-commerce sales in Southeast Asia. CONTEXT NEWSIndonesian authorities on Wednesday announced new regulations that bar social media companies from conducting direct e-commerce sales on their platforms.

Persons: Sandy Saputra, Willy Kurniawan, Shou Zi Chew, Joko, Zulkifli Hasan, TikTok, “, GoTo, Antony Currie, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Trade, HK, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Indonesian, Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights SINGAPORE, Southeast Asia, Singapore

☆ Travis Kelce could earn millions more thanks to the Taylor Swift effect, as experts say he could double or triple endorsement paydays
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After social media posts earlier this month ignited speculation, rumors of a relationship between the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Taylor Swift have been heating up. AdvertisementAdvertisementKelce's new social media followers, meanwhile, could mean a payoff that lasts longer than a quick fling. As he's moved up the social media ranks — he now has 3.4 million followers, compared with Mahomes' 5.8 million — his earnings could multiply. Sports influencer marketing agency OpenSponsorship anticipates his rates for social media endorsements could increase "3-5x," OpenSponsorship CEO Ishveen Jolly told Insider over email. Swift, by comparison, has 272 million followers on Instagram, and it's likely many of them have different interests frp, Kelce's typical fans.

The diesel ban will have the biggest impact because Russia is the world's top seaborne exporter of the fuel, just ahead of the United States. Europe could also fill some of the gap left by the Russia gasoline ban. Northwest European suppliers, which lost market share in West Africa to Russian supplies this year, could step in, FGE said. Since banning Russian fuel imports, Europe has been seeking suppliers elsewhere, including from the Middle East. As a result, traders said they expected Northeast Asian refiners in China and South Korea to boost diesel exports to Europe.

Persons: Alexey Malgavko, Vortexa, JP Morgan, said.Turkey, FGE, Edmund Blair Organizations: Traders, Kremlin, FGE Energy, WHO, BE, European Union, Gulf, Diesel, Northwest, Competition, Thomson Locations: Omsk, Russia, LONDON, SINGAPORE, Soviet, United States, Ukraine, Europe, Brazil, Turkey, North, West, East, Gulf, gasoil, India, Africa, Kpler, U.S, Gulf Coast, America, West Africa, China, South Korea

☆ Insider Today: Finance's next generation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter. Tech: An Amazon exec told employees the tech giant's RTO plans could take up to three years. An Amazon exec told employees the tech giant's RTO plans could take up to three years. Insider is again highlighting some of the brightest young minds in finance with our annual list of Wall Street's rising stars. The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, senior editor and anchor, in New York City.

Persons: —, Harrison, Alyssa Powell, Michelle Abrego, Luna McKeon, Michael Dunn Goekjian, Anne, Victoire Auriault, Goldman Sachs, Jack Dillon didn't, Thom Browne, Dillon, Patrick McGoldrick, Pat, Liu Jie, That'll, Jeffrey Epstein, Jes Staley, Epstein, Bill Tompkins, Donald Trump, it's, Austin Harris, Chris Pizzello, Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mark Zuckerberg, Lil Wayne, Avril Lavigne, Jenna Ortega, Gwyneth Paltrow, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Tech, Amazon, Jack Dillon didn't nab, Vista Equity Partners, New England Patriots, Morgan Asset Management, Getty, Verizon, JPMorgan, US Virgin Islands, SVP, Microsoft, FTC, Federal Trade Commission, AP, Fox Business, Florida Gov, Meta, Publishing Locations: Xinhua, Delta, Northern California, San Francisco, Florida, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

☆ This little-known maker of mountain bike parts has a history of outperforming during recessions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Fox Factory is known for making a wide range of products used in everything from bikes to off-road vehicles to trucks. "But at the same time, that's actually the consumer that's most resilient. The higher-income and enthusiastic consumer Analysts highlighted two qualities in Fox's consumer base that help the company weather a broader economic downturn. The company's "sticky" consumer base caught the attention of Motley Fool Asset Management's Shelby McFaddin, whose Small-Cap Growth ETF (TMFS) contains the stock. It's the largest competitor in the business of bike suspensions, which are typically used on mountain bikes to help mitigate rough terrain.

Persons: Riley, Anna Glaessgen, that's, they're, Michael Swartz, shutdowns, Riley's Glaessgen, Fox, Shelby McFaddin, McFaddin, Glaessgen, Truist's Swartz, Swartz, it's Organizations: Fox Factory, Growth, Consumers, Fox, Street, Ford, United Auto Workers, UAW

The eBay app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies eBay Inc FollowNEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Wednesday sued eBay (EBAY.O), accusing the online platform of violating the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws by allowing the sale of several harmful products, including devices that defeat automobile pollution controls. EBay was also accused of allowing the sale of at least 23,000 unregistered, misbranded or restricted-use pesticides, violating a 2020 "stop sale" order from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "EBay has the power, the authority, and the resources to stop the sale of these illegal, harmful products on its website," the complaint said. "Indeed, eBay is blocking and removing more than 99.9% of the listings for the products cited by the DOJ, including millions of listings each year."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jonathan Stempel, Sharon Singleton, Bill Berkro Organizations: eBay, REUTERS, U.S, Wednesday, EBay, The, Justice, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, DOJ, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn , New York, U.S, San Jose , California, New York

☆ Indian shares set for muted opening on weak global cues
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The new logo of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building is seen in Mumbai, India, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Indian shares are set for a muted opening on Wednesday, tracking weakness in global equity markets as investors continue to grapple with prospects of higher interest rates denting economic growth. India's GIFT Nifty (.GIFc1) was mostly unchanged at 19,609 points at 7:34 a.m. IST on the NSE International Exchange. Meanwhile, foreign investors remained net sellers this month, offloading about $1.5 billion of shares as of Sept. 22, after pouring over $15 billion into Indian equities this year. Foreign investors sold 6.93 billion rupees of shares, while domestic investors bought 7.14 billion rupees shares on Tuesday, provisional exchange data showed.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Bombay Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, NSE, Exchange, BSE, U.S, Federal, Vedanta, Sethuraman NR, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Bengaluru

☆ Indonesia bans e-commerce transactions on social media in major blow to TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Jakarta Reuters —Indonesia has banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms, the trade minister said on Wednesday, in a blow to short video app TikTok, which is doubling down on Southeast Asia’s biggest economy to boost its e-commerce business. TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has 125 million active monthly users in Indonesia and has been looking to translate the large user base into a major e-commerce revenue source. He warned of letting social media become an e-commerce platform, shop and bank all at the same time. Indonesia Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga earlier this month named TikTok’s live streaming features as an example of people selling goods on social media. E-commerce transactions in Indonesia amounted to nearly $52 billion last year and of that, 5% took place on TikTok, according to data from consultancy Momentum Works.

Persons: TikTok, China’s ByteDance, “, Zulkifli Hasan, Zulkifli, Jerry Sambuaga, Sea’s Shopee, Fahmi, ” Organizations: Jakarta Reuters —, Indonesia Trade, Wednesday, Reuters, Indonesia Deputy Trade, Research, BMI, Momentum Works Locations: Jakarta, Jakarta Reuters — Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Shop, TikTok, Europe, United States

☆ The Big Yawn: You really think the FTC will win against Amazon?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Insider has asked Apple, Google and Amazon for comment on various antitrust allegations in the past. But consumers don't pay for Google Search. The results of a Google search Alistair Barr/Insider/GoogleThe Amazon situation is similar. Marketpulse estimated earlier this year that Amazon sellers pay more than 50% of their revenue to Amazon in fees now. The results of an Amazon search Alistair Barr/Insider/AmazonEven Apple does this in its App Store.

Persons: —, Mark Schlisky, didn't, Lina Kahn, haven't, Vail, Alistair Barr, superstores, Burton Organizations: FTC, Amazon, DOJ, Google, Apple, Service, Bernstein, Big Tech, Ikon, Epic's, Epic, Vail Resorts

TOKYO (AP) — Shares in Asia were mostly higher on Wednesday, shrugging off a sharp decline on Wall Street that took benchmarks back to where they were in June. That pushed the Fed last week to say it will likely cut interest rates by less next year than earlier expected. Besides high interest rates, a long list of other worries is also tugging at Wall Street. On Wall Street, the vast majority of stocks fell Tuesday under such pressures, including 90% of those within the S&P 500. Big Tech stocks tend to be among the hardest hit by high rates, and they were the heaviest weights on the index.

Persons: shrugging, Hui Ka Yan, Australia's, ” Stephen Innes, Brent Organizations: TOKYO, Tokyo's Nikkei, Hang Seng, Bloomberg, Garden Holdings, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Fed, U.S, Management, Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, Seoul, Maryland, Carolinas

The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France, January 5, 2023. These are the specific allegations included in the FTC's 172-page complaint:ONLINE SUPERSTORE, SERVICES MONOPOLIES*The agency alleged that Amazon had a monopoly in an online superstore market. *The agency also said that Amazon had a monopoly in the online marketplace for services, where Amazon has more than 70% of the market. PUNISHES SELLERS FOR LOWER PRICES ELSEWHERE* The complaint alleged Amazon uses a sophisticated network of web crawlers that identify which of its sellers offer their products more cheaply on other platforms. MONITORING PRICES* Amazon used the Project Nessie pricing system as an unfair method of competition.

Persons: Pascal, Nessie, Diane Bartz, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Amazon.com, Amazon, Walmart, FTC, Amazon's, Thomson Locations: Lauwin, France, United States

While borrowers can't control the macroeconomic conditions that have led to higher mortgage rates, they can do some things with their own finances to ensure they snag the lowest rates available. By boosting your credit score, you can keep your mortgage payment down, even when rates are sky high. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowToday's refinance ratesMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. But whether mortgage rates will drop in 2023 hinges on if the Federal Reserve can get inflation under control. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: they've, you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: Zillow, Federal Reserve, Fed, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

Those three struck plants are a Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan, a GM plant in Wentzville, Missouri and a Stellantis plant in Ohio. A week ago, Fain announced that there had been progress at Ford toward a settlement, and that it would not expand the strike there. But he said the lack of progress at GM and Stellatis meant that the union would expand the strike to 38 parts distribution centers at those two companies. The union had said from the start of the strike that was retaining the option to expand its walkout as a way of increasing pressure on the companies. If the strike does expand on Friday, where it expands will go a long way in determining how much economic pressure the union is putting on the company.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Joe Biden, Biden, Fain, ” Fain, “ Stellantis, Marshall, Ford Organizations: Detroit CNN, United Auto Workers, General Motors, UAW, Ford, GM Locations: Wayne , Michigan, Wentzville , Missouri, Ohio, Marshall , Michigan, Michigan, Kansas City , Kansas

FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan testifies during a budget hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce, April 18, 2023. Khan pointed to scale on Wednesday as a way Amazon leverages its power to dampen competition. Khan also explained the FTC's decision to define the market Amazon has monopolized as the online superstore. "We've had a whole set of antitrust cases that have succeeded when defining a market as the superstore market." This complaint applies that idea to the online world, Khan said, adding that there are functions that only an online superstore can serve through the "depth and breadth" of offerings.

Persons: Lina Khan, Khan, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, it's, We've Organizations: House Energy, Commerce, Amazon, Federal Trade, FTC, Yale, Intelligence Locations: U.S

☆ 'Shark Tank' watch: Kevin O'Leary warns about commercial real estate, Barbara Corcoran expects house prices to climb, and Daymond John touts Apple and Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Three "Shark Tank" investors weighed in on stocks, real estate, and cryptocurrencies. Daymond John loves Apple and Amazon; Kevin O'Leary likes index funds but worries about commercial space. AdvertisementAdvertisementA trio of "Shark Tank" investors shared their views on stocks, real estate, and cryptocurrencies in a Fox Business interview on Tuesday. Kevin O'Leary touted index funds, rang the alarm on commercial real estate, and predicted the crypto industry will clean up its act. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Stock picking is really hard," the founder of O'Leary Funds and O'Leary Ventures said.

Persons: Daymond John, Apple, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, —, Daymond John trumpeted Apple, he's, she's, Stocks O'Leary, O'Leary, John, Amazon's, Corcoran, Crypto O'Leary, Sam Bankman, Fried's, I'm Organizations: Service, Fox, O'Leary Funds, O'Leary Ventures, Apple, Foods, The Corcoran Locations: bitcoin

☆ TikTok Shop is offering hemp-derived THC syrup, sex toys, and other banned goods to users as the platform struggles with enforcement
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Dan Whateley | Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

TikTok is in an all-out blitz to make its e-commerce marketplace Shop take off. But as it races to drive up sales, it's letting prohibited products slip through the cracks. TikTok Shop has over 200,000 sellers, according to the company, which has been a challenge as it tries to keep out banned goods at scale. TikTok isn't alone in failing to keep its e-commerce marketplace cleanTikTok isn't the only e-commerce player to struggle with marketplace quality. It's early days for TikTok Shop in the US, and the company is still finding its footing.

Persons: TikTok, TikTok isn't, Etsy, it's, Madeline Stone, Dan Whateley Organizations: TikTok Locations: mstone@insider.com, dwhateley@insider.com

[1/4] Bening Widayati, 40, sells clothes live on a social media platform inside her stall at the International Trade Center (ITC) mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 27, 2023. The government said the move, which takes effect immediately, is aimed at protecting offline merchants and marketplaces, adding that predatory pricing on social media platforms is threatening small and medium-sized enterprises. The move comes just three months after TikTok pledged to invest billion of dollars in Southeast Asia, mainly in Indonesia, over the next few years in a major push to build its e-commerce platform TikTok Shop. He warned of letting social media become an e-commerce platform, shop, and bank all at the same time. Indonesia Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga earlier this month named TikTok's live streaming features as an example of people selling goods on social media.

Persons: Widayati, Willy Kurniawan, TikTok, China's ByteDance, Zulkifli Hasan, Zulkifli, Jerry Sambuaga, Fahmi, Edri, Dewi Kurniawati, Stefanno Sulaiman, Fransiska Nangoy, Stanley Widianto, Johan Purnomo, Kanupriya Kapoor, Alexandra Hudson, Miyoung Kim, Mark Porter Organizations: International Trade Center, REUTERS, Indonesia Trade, Wednesday, Reuters, Indonesia Deputy Trade, Research, BMI, HK, Lazada, Momentum Works, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, JAKARTA, Shop, TikTok, Europe, United States

Target said Tuesday that it will close nine stores in major cities across the country, citing violence, theft and organized retail crime. Target, which has nearly 2,000 stores in the U.S., has been outspoken about organized retail crime at its stores. When the company reported fiscal second-quarter earnings in mid-May, CEO Brian Cornell said organized retail crime had shot up at its stores. When asked if the company plans to close stores because of rising shrink, Cornell stressed Target's reluctance to shutter locations. Since 2022, at least nine states — six so far this year — have passed similar laws to impose harsher penalties for organized retail crime offenses.

Persons: Brian Cornell, Cornell, We'll, we'll Organizations: Coordination, CNBC Locations: New York, Harlem, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, Portland , Oregon, U.S

☆ Amazon punishes sellers that offer their items for less elsewhere, the FTC says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Marketplace Pulse reported in February that Amazon sellers are paying as much as 50% of their revenue to Amazon in fees, a point that is echoed in the FTC's suit. "Amazon also recognizes that sellers believe 'that it has become more difficult over time to be profitable on Amazon,'" the FTC filing reads. According to the filing, Amazon's ads reach 96% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 54 each month. "According to an internal Amazon study, Amazon's sellers live 'in constant fear' of Amazon arbitrarily interfering with their ability to sell on Amazon, which 'put[s] their businesses and livelihoods at risk,'" the complaint reads. "When Amazon detects elsewhere online a product that is cheaper than a seller's offer for the same product on Amazon, Amazon punishes that seller," it reads.

Persons: David Zapolsky, Zapolsky, Nessie, Douglas Farrar Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Marketplace, Amazon, Amazon Prime

☆ CD Projekt's 'Phantom Liberty' rated very positive on Steam
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GDANSK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - "Phantom Liberty", the long-awaited expansion to Polish video game developer CD Projekt's (CDR.WA) flagship game "Cyberpunk 2077", had received a "very positive" rating on Steam platform based on 1,067 user reviews just few hours after game's launch on Tuesday. Cyberpunk 2077, which is offered at a 40% discount, has led the top sellers chart on Steam platform since Monday, with Phantom Liberty in second place. The release of Phantom Liberty is CD Projekt's first major game premiere since bug-ridden launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020. "Phantom Liberty is Cyberpunk 2077 at its best. The expansion is the last project to be developed on CD Projekt's own technology RED Engine, with the company switching to external Unreal Engine for its upcoming developments, that include Cyberpunk sequel.

Persons: Keanu Reeves, Johnny Silverhand, Idris Elba, Solomon Reed, Adrianna Ebert, Kirsten Donovan, Michael Perry Organizations: Phantom Liberty, Liberty, PlayStation, GameSpot, Thomson Locations: GDANSK, American

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