Booksellers, Authors' Groups Urge DoJ Antitrust Investigation of Amazon

The American Booksellers Association (ABA) and a trio of authors’ advocacy groups urged the DoJ Antitrust Division Monday to investigate Amazon on antitrust grounds, saying in separate letters that the online retailer is abusing its position within the industry. Authors United urged DoJ to launch an investigation of Amazon’s “abuse of its dominance in the world of books,” claiming that Amazon has negatively impacted the U.S. book industry. The ABA sent a separate letter to DoJ in support of the Authors United letter, and said in a news release that the antitrust investigation request also has support from the Authors Guild and the Association of Authors’ Representatives. The Authors Guild said it plans to also send a letter to the DoJ. Amazon didn’t comment.