It is actually a very interesting point you raise from a legal perspective. Kind of on par with Google's ability to unfairly utilize their internet search data

It is actually a very interesting point you raise from a legal perspective. Kind of on par with Google's ability to unfairly utilize their internet search data which would have crushed the competition is spaces such as hotel/airline booking, local review websites, ect... For example, Google is under significant regulations as a result of the DOJ settlement[1], "To prevent abuse of commercially sensitive information, Google will be required to implement firewall restrictions within the company that prevent unauthorized use of competitively sensitive information and data gathered from [flight booking] customers." While I think jack-r-abbit is accurate about many business not competing with Amazon, if Amazon begins using financial data to unfairly stifle retailer competition, then they are playing with fire, Anti-Trust lawsuits are not cheap. [1] http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/April/11-at-445.html http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/April/11-at-445.html