Category: Game Distribution Platforms
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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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Group involving Disney says Apple ‘is engaging in reality distortion on the grandest possible scale’ regarding Epic’s injunction
According to a media industry body’s filing, “Apple’s late, legendary leader Steve Jobs was often said to have a ‘reality distortion field’ that kicked in whenever he committed his team to overcoming an obstacle. Apple […] is engaging in reality distortion on the grandest possible scale.”
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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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Epic Games asks U.S. court to hold Apple in contempt, alleges “Apple’s so-called compliance is a sham”
Epic Games has filed a motion to enforce its U.S. anti-anti-steering injunction against Apple. That injunction was ordered in September 2021 and entered into force in January after the Supreme Court declined to take the case.
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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.
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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.