Category: Digital Markets Regulation
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Apple terminates Epic Games’ EU developer account, preventing Epic from making an alternative iOS app store
Apple’s termination of Epic’s Swedish subsidiary’s developer account means further escalation in the Epic-Apple dispute and raises a DMA enforcement question of first impression.
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On DMA Day, thanks to EVP Vestager for prioritizing app stores and to Apple for fixing a small-business issue
On today’s DMA Day, a key compliance deadline, games fray does not see effective competition in app stores (apart from niche markets) on the horizon but there is mid-term hope. And Apple deserves credit for fixing an issue.
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Explanation (on eve of DMA Day) of Apple’s refusal to make major concessions to app makers: it’s worth it to them
App Store critics of all sizes must be aware of what drives Apple’s dogged defense and makes it so resilient. Policy makers and private-sector stakeholders have too often brought butter knives to a high-stakes gunfight.
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App Store critics like Spotify and Epic got mixed results in middle game—but what’s their end game against Apple?
Like a chess game, breaking Apple’s app monopoly consists of opening, middle game and end game, Apple always planned for the whole distance. What about its rivals?
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Why the EU’s Digital Markets Act fails in the App Store context: network effects handily beat non-qualified FRAND
Whether the European Commission and/or private parties try to enforce the Digital Markets Act’s FRAND requirement, Apple is overwhelmingly likely to defend its commercial terms, either entirely or for the largest part. The DMA is too weak.
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Apple will reinstate home-screen web apps in EU, but limits feature to own browser engine contrary to DMA
The EU Digital Markets Act obligates Apple to allow browsers to come with their own engines. Apple now gives its own engine an exclusive feature: progressive web apps.
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Apple says software pirate already reached out to build alternative app store while EU governments, users are frightened
Apple’s new whitepaper on compliance with the Digital Markets Act primarily seeks to justify the company’s narrow and self-serving interpretation of the DMA. That said, the DMA risks becoming a huge embarrassment for the EU because (absent an amendment) it will fail to bring about competition and benefit only controversial and bad actors.
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EU Commission confirms Apple web apps inquiry but EU users won’t get home-screen web apps back before 2030s if ever
The European Commission has confirmed reports that it sent out questionnaires to market participants regarding Apple’s decision to disable progressive web apps in the EU. This article analyzes Apple’s likely defense strategy.
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7 changes to patch the EU’s Digital Markets Act and make open app markets a reality over Apple’s belligerent stance
In this article, games fray proposes a set of measures that would up the ante for Apple’s efforts to open up iOS app distribution in the EU.
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Apple’s EU app rules comply with Digital Markets Act unless judges take purposive interpretation to higher level
Apple has a resaonable argument that it complies with the EU’s Digital Markets Act in a literal sense.Only a teleological (or purposive) interpretation of the DMA poses a risk to Apple, but the legal and factual hurdles are high.