Category: Competition Enforcement
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First anniversary of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard: gamers’ material benefits vs. FTC’s imaginary harm
Contrary to what some regulators feared, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, which was consummated one year ago to the day, has actually resulted in more consumer choice.
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Microsoft responds to FTC letter: Game Pass price changes don’t support theories of harm in Activision Blizzard merger case
Context: The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held its FTC v. Microsoft & Activision Blizzard hearing (the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) appealed a district court’s July 2023 denial of a preliminary injunction against the transaction) in early December. Since then, 7 1/2 months have gone by without a decision, a fact…
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European Commission launches 4th Apple compliance investigation in 2 weeks: Spotify antitrust matter
In addition to hitting Apple with two formal DMA non-compliance investigations and a preliminary one, the European Commission has now also launched an inquiry into Apple’s alleged non-compliance with last month’s Spotify antitrust ruling. The key issue is whether Apple may charge for links to external purchasing options.
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Apple rejects Spotify’s new app version, new rules render EU antitrust decision pointless by charging for IP and services
Apple announced new terms for music streaming apps in the EU in response to the European Commission’s decision further to complaints by Spotify and another music streaming company, Deezer. Effectively, the EU decision is of zero use now.
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In what directions could the EU Commission’s ‘other investigatory steps’ concerning alternative app distribution go?
The EU Commission announced five full-blown DMA compliance investigations on Monday, and additionally mentioned “other investigatory steps” concerning, among other things, Apple’s terms for alternative app stores and direct web installs. What could that inquiry relate to and what are the outcome-determinative issues?
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EU commissioner Breton repeats threat of ‘heavy fines’ for DMA breaches: sign of strength, impatience or desperation?
EU internal market commissioner Thierry Breton repeatedly stresses the risk of heavy fines if gatekeepers fail to comply with the Digital Markets Act. That message increasingly risks being conterproductive.
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EU Apple investigation aims to promote more choice between WebKit, WebKit and WebKit —cosmetics or opening salvo?
The scope of the European Commission’s browser choice investigation is limited. Instead of tackling the issue of how to enable browsers with alternative engines to compete, it focuses on (non-)choice.
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EU launches full-blown App Store, Google Play investigations under DMA: tidal change or tempest in teapot?
The EU Commission has shown its determination to enforce the Digital Markets Act by launching full-blown investigations of suspected non-compliance by Apple, Google and Meta. With respect to mobile app stores, nothing will change in the marketplace for a long time to come, however.
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Who will make more of an impact on Apple’s walled garden: the U.S. DOJ or the European Commission?
Context: On Monday (March 18), the European Commission (EC) held a Digital Markets Act (DMA) Enforcement Workshop for Apple (March 14, 2024 games fray article). Apple’s EU app rules have been criticized for not creating much of an opportunity for rival app stores and other non-Apple distribution methods. On Thursday (March 21), the United States…
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Agenda for EU Commission workshop on Apple’s (disputed) compliance with Digital Markets Act: Monday (3/18)
The European Commission has provided to register participants the agenda for the Apple DMA Compliance Workshop on Monday, March 18.