Category: Digital Markets Regulation
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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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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.
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Google’s DMA compliance plan calls Digital Markets Act’s usefulness into question, one pricing detail ridicules the EU
Google’s Digital Markets Act compliance plan creates theoretical, but not practical, opportunities for third parties. Consumers won’t benefit. But the structure and the tone are more constructive than Apple’s, making Google a low enforcement priority.
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Apple capitulates to EU Commission, Epic Games Store will come to iOS—this is the end of the beginning
Apple has given up and now allows Epic Games to create an iOS version of the Epic Games Store in the EU under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act. The European Commission has scored its first major DMA victory within only two days of the compliance deadline. Other issues remain, however.
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Steve Jobs turning in his grave as EU tells Apple: we won’t let you silence critics like Epic Games—PR Waterloo, $30B risk
An X (forermely known as Twitter) post by EU internal market commissioner Thierry Breton makes it likely that Apple will now have to fold and let Epic Games run an iOS app store in the EU.