TOTM
Market Definition in FTC v. Amazon: A Crucial Battleground
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) antitrust suit against Amazon, originally filed in October 2023, is scheduled for trial in October 2026. In the meantime, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington has scheduled a March 7 “economics day” hearing to focus on fundamental economic concepts that will shape the case—including the crucial question of market definition.
Market definition serves as the starting point for antitrust analysis. Before a court can determine whether a company has monopoly power or has engaged in anticompetitive conduct, it must first identify the relevant market in which the firm operates. This seemingly technical exercise serves to determine the lens through which the entire case will be viewed.