In a significant development, Amazon has secured a partial victory in its legal battle against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A federal judge ruled that the FTC’s request for internal documents related to the company’s antitrust practices was overly broad and intrusive. The ruling, while a setback for the FTC, does not entirely derail its investigation.

The FTC had sought access to a vast trove of internal documents, arguing they were crucial to its investigation into whether Amazon engaged in anti-competitive practices. The documents included internal communications, strategic plans, and even private messages among Amazon executives. Amazon, however, argued that the FTC’s request was overly burdensome and could reveal sensitive business information.

The judge ultimately sided with Amazon, stating that the FTC had not adequately demonstrated the necessity of all the requested documents. He did, however, allow the FTC to request a narrower set of documents that are directly related to its antitrust investigation.

This decision is a blow to the FTC, who has been aggressively pursuing antitrust claims against tech giants like Amazon. The agency is still investigating whether Amazon used its dominant position in the marketplace to stifle competition and harm consumers.

While this ruling may seem like a win for Amazon, the fight is far from over. The FTC can still pursue its investigation with the limited access to documents, and they have not ruled out further legal action. This case is likely to set a precedent for future antitrust investigations, as regulators grapple with the challenges of regulating large, complex tech companies.