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Xiaomi requests CCI to recall antitrust report involving Flipkart due to sensitive commercial information.
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Report allegedly reveals confidential business details, including model-wise sales data.
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CCI investigation finds Flipkart and Amazon favored specific sellers, harming competition and consumers.
Xiaomi has urged India’s Competition Commission of India (CCI) to recall an antitrust report that found Xiaomi and Flipkart guilty of violating competition laws ¹. The report, which was part of an investigation initiated in 2021, supposedly contains sensitive commercial information that should have been redacted ¹ ². Specifically, Xiaomi claims that the report includes confidential business details such as model-wise sales data, which could be misused if not properly protected.
The CCI’s investigation into Flipkart and Amazon revealed that these e-commerce platforms favored specific sellers and formed exclusive deals with companies like Xiaomi ¹ ³ ⁴. This practice harms competition and consumers, according to the CCI. Notably, Xiaomi doesn’t have issues with the data in the report concerning Amazon, despite similar claims of collusion ¹ ². The company is primarily focused on the report involving Flipkart.
Xiaomi and Samsung are leading smartphone brands in India, controlling around 36% of the market, with Vivo at 19% ¹ ⁴. The outcome of this investigation could impact their sales strategies, especially regarding exclusive online product launches. If the CCI agrees to recall the report, it could slow down the investigation ¹ ². The watchdog previously took a similar step in August when Apple raised concerns about its confidential business data in an antitrust report.
Investigation Findings:
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Flipkart and Amazon’s Anti-Competitive Practices: Favoring specific sellers and forming exclusive deals with companies like Xiaomi.
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Impact on Competition and Consumers: Harms competition and consumers by limiting choices and promoting unfair business practices.
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Potential Consequences: Xiaomi and other smartphone brands may need to adjust their sales strategies, particularly regarding exclusive online product launches
