Amazon must face D.C.'s antitrust lawsuit, appeals court rules

By Jody Godoy

(Reuters) - An appeals court in Washington, D.C. revived the district's lawsuit against Amazon.com Inc on Thursday, saying it plausibly claimed the online retailer's pricing policies illegally stifle competition.

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals reversed a ruling that had dismissed the lawsuit, which accuses Amazon of harming competition through restrictions on its suppliers and third-party sellers on Amazon.com.

Amazon is currently seeking dismissal of another case involving similar claims by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and more than a dozen states.

Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle said the company disagrees with the appeals court ruling and looks forward to proving its policies benefit consumers.