Can Parler, Or Its Amazon Suit, Survive? - Law360

Parler says its return to the web is “inevitable” despite Amazon‘s pulling the platform’s plug for its alleged role in fomenting the U.S. Capitol riot. But the success of Parler’s retaliatory antitrust claim against Amazon? Competition professionals say it’s almost certain to fail. Parler’s suit lacks even the basic components required of an antitrust lawsuit, the experts say.

“There’s not even an allegation that a specific deal was made for an improper purpose,” said Ryan Baker, a founding partner at Waymaker.

Nor does the complaint specify a relevant market, according to fellow Waymaker attorney Donald Pepperman. “Critical elements of an antitrust claim are missing,” he said.

The fact that Amazon had previously done business with Parler belies assertions that the web giant would try to protect Twitter from competition, according to Baker. “Logically, that makes no sense,” he said.

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