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ACCC Sues Amazon Australia Over Unfair Prime Subscription Terms

The regulator has asked the Federal Court to order penalties and refunds after saying prepaid members were forced to accept ads or pay extra.

Overview

  • The ACCC filed Federal Court proceedings on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, alleging Amazon Commercial Services Pty Ltd used five standard-form contract terms between November 2023 and August 2025 that let it make unilateral, adverse changes to annual Prime subscriptions.
  • The regulator says Amazon relied on those clauses when it added advertising to Prime Video on July 2, 2024, leaving more than one million prepaid annual members with an ad-supported service unless they paid an extra A$2.99 per month to remain ad-free.
  • The complaint names Amazon.com Services LLC as knowingly concerned, alleging the US entity helped draft the Australian contracts and played a role in the global decision to introduce ads.
  • The ACCC is seeking court declarations that the terms were unfair, civil penalties, consumer redress including refunds, legal costs and other orders under Australia’s strengthened unfair contract‑term penalty regime.
  • Amazon Australia says it is reviewing the filings in detail and cooperated with the ACCC during its investigation, while the case could set a test case for how subscription services may change prepaid offerings and face penalties under Australian law.