What’s at Stake
If the nine-person jury finds Amazon liable, the court could impose statutory fines up to $53,000 per violation plus consumer redress that experts estimate could reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
For Amazon, the reputational damage could be equally severe. The company brands itself as “customer obsessed,” and a finding that it deliberately obstructed customers could weaken its core marketing message.
Procedural Roadmap
The trial is expected to last about one month, with testimony from customers, former employees, and current Amazon staff. After the jury issues its verdict on liability, the judge will determine penalties and damages.
Possible outcomes include:
- A negotiated settlement to cap exposure.
- An injunction requiring Amazon to overhaul Prime’s sign-up and cancellation mechanisms.
- Prolonged appeals, with Amazon seeking to narrow the interpretation of ROSCA at the circuit court level.
Sources
- FTC v. Amazon.com Inc., Case No. 2:23-cv-00932 (W.D. Wash., filed June 21, 2023) — Complaint PDF
- FTC press release (June 2023) —gov
- Pretrial order on partial summary judgment (U.S. District Court, Sept. 2025) — PDF
- Amazon’s Answer and defenses (filed Aug. 2023) — Court record
🛑 It should be noted that the assertions in the FTC’s lawsuit are allegations and have not yet been proven in a court of law.
