Apple Wins Last-Gasp Reprieve From Brazil App Store Changes

A Brazilian federal court has overturned an antitrust ruling that would have required Apple to allow third-party payment systems in the App Store within 20 days. The initial ruling, issued on November 26, came in response to a 2022 complaint from Latin American e-commerce platform MercadoLibre. The regulator had ordered Apple to remove restrictions on […]

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Apple Faces Daily Fines in Brazil Over App Store Payment Restrictions

Brazil’s antitrust regulator has ordered Apple to remove App Store restrictions on third-party payment systems and allow developers to market alternative payment options for in-app purchases. Apple has 20 days to comply or face daily fines of $43,000. The ruling by the Council for Economic Defense (Cade) comes in response to a 2022 complaint filed […]

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EU Closes Antitrust Probe Into Apple’s Ebook App Store Rules

The European Commission has ended its antitrust investigation into Apple’s App Store rules for ebook and audiobook apps, following the withdrawal of a complaint by an ebook distributor. Originally launched in June 2020, the investigation was sparked by a complaint from Rakuten’s Kobo subsidiary. Kobo had argued that Apple’s mandatory 30% commission on App Store […]

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Apple’s Browser Rules Stifle Innovation on iOS, Says UK Regulator

Apple’s restrictions on mobile browsers are limiting innovation and holding back new features that could benefit iPhone users, according to provisional findings published today by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). In its report, the CMA’s independent inquiry group determined that Apple’s Safari browser policies prevent competing browsers from implementing certain features, such as […]

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Apple Accused of Trapping 40 Million Customers into iCloud Service

Apple is facing an almost £3 billion ($3.78 billion) lawsuit after British consumer group Which? on Thursday alleged that the company breached competition law by locking millions of its customers out of its iCloud service and charging them “rip-off prices.” Apple users receive 5GB of free storage to back up photos, messages, and other content, […]

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Apple Faces Epic Games-Style China Lawsuit Over App Store Practices

A Chinese court has agreed to hear a lawsuit against Apple from Beijing Bodyreader, a developer seeking around $420,000 in damages after their children’s posture correction app was removed from the App Store in 2020. Bloomberg reports that the case – the first of its kind to be heard in Beijing’s intellectual property court – […]

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EU Plans to Fine Apple for Anticompetitive App Store Practices

The European Commission plans to fine Apple for not adequately complying with Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements for the App Store, reports Bloomberg. Regulators apparently believe that Apple did not implement changes that allowed developers to steer users to cheaper prices outside of the ‌App Store‌. Back in June, the EU said that Apple was […]

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Apple Gets EU Warning to Open iOS to Third-Party Connected Devices

The European Union today issued a warning to Apple, demanding that the tech giant open up its iOS operating system to rival companies and third-party developers or potentially face significant fines. The move is part of the EU’s efforts to enforce the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to ensure fair competition in the digital […]

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Apple Denies Evidence of Hidden Browser Settings to UK Regulator

Apple faces allegations of misleading the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over a user interface issue in iOS related to changing the default browser, Open Web Advocacy reports. Earlier this year, reports surfaced accusing Apple of implementing a deceptive design practice in iOS that made it more difficult for users to switch their default […]

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UK Antitrust Watchdog Closes Apple App Store Investigation, Case to Be Reconsidered Under New Digital Rules Regime

The UK’s Competition and Market Authority (CMA) today announced it had closed an investigation into Apple’s App Store policies, as it expects to consider the concerns under a new digital markets competition regime which is expected to come into force later this year. Originally initiated in March 2021, the CMA’s investigation set out to determine […]

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Apple Allows Spotify to Show Pricing Info to EU Users in iPhone App

Spotify says it has received approval from Apple to display pricing information in its iOS app for users in the European Union, following its years-long legal struggle with the company. Spotify says that from Wednesday, iPhone users in the EU will be informed of pricing information in the app and the fact that they can […]

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Apple Halts Indian Antitrust Probe With Confidentiality Complaint

India’s Competition Commission has recalled two investigative reports accusing Apple of antitrust violations after the company raised concerns about the disclosure of confidential commercial information (via Reuters). The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has withdrawn two key reports that alleged Apple breached local competition laws. The recall, which is highly unusual, comes after the company […]

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Apple Files Motion to Dismiss Department of Justice Antitrust Lawsuit

Apple today filed a motion to dismiss its ongoing lawsuit with the United States Department of Justice, a standard step in the litigation process. In its motion to dismiss, Apple argues that the government’s complaint has not demonstrated anticompetitive conduct, anticompetitive effect that harms consumers, or that Apple is a monopoly power in the U.S. […]

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Spain Launches Investigation Into Apple’s App Store

Spain’s competition authority has launched an investigation into Apple’s App Store over potential anti-competitive practices that could result in hefty fines (via Reuters). The National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) this week announced a probe into the ‌App Store‌, citing concerns that the company might be imposing unfair trading conditions on developers who distribute […]

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EU Accuses Apple’s App Store Steering Rules of Violating DMA and Opens Investigation into Developer Fees

The European Commission has formally announced its preliminary view that Apple’s App Store policies are in breach of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), specifically in relation to anti-steering rules. Under the DMA, developers distributing their apps via Apple’s ‌App Store‌ should be able, free of charge, to inform their customers of alternative cheaper purchasing possibilities, […]

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Apple Pushes Back Against India’s New Digital Market Regulations

Apple, Google, and Amazon are urging India to reconsider its proposed Digital Competition Bill, citing concerns over increased user costs and potential reductions in investment (via Reuters). A U.S. lobby group representing major technology companies has asked the Indian government to rethink the proposed legislation that closely mirrors the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. The […]

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Apple Challenges $2 Billion EU Antitrust Fine Over Spotify Complaint

Apple is challenging a $1.95 billion fine imposed by the European Commission for thwarting fair competition from music-streaming rivals, including Spotify (via Bloomberg). The Commission fined Apple in March, saying that the company abused its dominant position in the market by forbidding music streaming apps to tell users about cheaper subscription prices outside the app. […]

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Apple Challenges $2 Billion EU Antitrust Fine Over Spotify Complaint

Apple is challenging a $1.95 billion fine imposed by the European Commission for thwarting fair competition from music-streaming rivals, including Spotify (via Bloomberg). The Commission fined Apple in March, saying that the company abused its dominant position in the market by forbidding music streaming apps to tell users about cheaper subscription prices outside the app. […]

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Judge Tosses Out Cryptocurrency Apple Antitrust Lawsuit Filed by Venmo Customers

A lawsuit targeting Apple’s refusal to allow apps to support cryptocurrency transactions was today tossed out by a San Francisco judge, reports Reuters. The lawsuit, which was filed by Venmo and Cash App customers, claimed that Apple drove up the fees charged by Venmo and Cash App by not letting payment apps facilitate cryptocurrency transactions. […]

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