France hits Apple with a $1.23 billion anti-competitive fine

The French Competition Authority has ordered Apple to pay a €1.1 billion ($1.23 billion) fine, for colluding with its distributors and abusing the economic dependence of its independent resellers. 

France's competition watchdog also fined two wholesalers, Tech Data and Ingram Micro, for €76.1 million ($85 million) and €62.9 million ($70.3 million), respectively. 

The fine, a record for France, was imposed after it was found that Apple agreed with these two large wholesalers not to compete and thus fix prices for Apple products. Apple also abused its Premium distributors by subjecting them to unfair commercial conditions compared to integrated distributors.  Read more...