Comments on: Amazon.com Is On Drugs http://paulaoffutt.com/blog/archives/2008/03/29/amazoncom-is-on-drugs/ Ramblings of an Insane Lesbian Book Writing Crip Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:12:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Author http://paulaoffutt.com/blog/archives/2008/03/29/amazoncom-is-on-drugs/#comment-157093 Author Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:34:11 +0000 http://paulaoffutt.com/blog/archives/2008/03/29/amazoncom-is-on-drugs/#comment-157093 A good case can be made that what Amazon is attempting to do violates anti-trust laws. Waiting for federal anti-trust action would take many years--years to get the Justice Department to act, years of trials, years of fussing over what the court decision means. Notice how long it took to deal with Microsoft's tactics, despite the fact that the corporations they were bullying were large and powerful. None of us can afford that long a wait. Action at the state level, however, could move much faster, particularly if it involves off-the-record contact and a somber warning from those who can make trouble for Amazon. Amazon is headquartered in Seattle about a ten minute drive from the office of the Antitrust division of the Washington state attorney general. Here's the contact information: Office of the Attorney General Antitrust Division 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000 Seattle, WA 98104-3188 http://www.atg.wa.gov/Antitrust/default.aspx Telephone: 206-587-5510 Fax: 206-464-6338 Note the remark on that web page that "The Antitrust Division only processes complaints that involve either Washington State residents or businesses located in Washington State." Amazon is in Washington state, so it matters not where you are. You might also want to raise the issue with your state attorney general's antitrust office, asking them to get in touch with their colleagues in Seattle. If you're a publisher, encourage your authors to write. If you're an author, encourage other writers to contact them. It might be best to call followed up by a letter or fax. A good case can be made that what Amazon is attempting to do violates anti-trust laws. Waiting for federal anti-trust action would take many years–years to get the Justice Department to act, years of trials, years of fussing over what the court decision means. Notice how long it took to deal with Microsoft's tactics, despite the fact that the corporations they were bullying were large and powerful. None of us can afford that long a wait.

Action at the state level, however, could move much faster, particularly if it involves off-the-record contact and a somber warning from those who can make trouble for Amazon. Amazon is headquartered in Seattle about a ten minute drive from the office of the Antitrust division of the Washington state attorney general. Here's the contact information:

Office of the Attorney General

Antitrust Division

800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000

Seattle, WA 98104-3188

http://www.atg.wa.gov/Antitrust/default.aspx

Telephone: 206-587-5510

Fax: 206-464-6338

Note the remark on that web page that "The Antitrust Division only processes complaints that involve either Washington State residents or businesses located in Washington State." Amazon is in Washington state, so it matters not where you are. You might also want to raise the issue with your state attorney general's antitrust office, asking them to get in touch with their colleagues in Seattle. If you're a publisher, encourage your authors to write. If you're an author, encourage other writers to contact them.

It might be best to call followed up by a letter or fax.

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