EU to rule against Apple in App Store battle with Spotify

EU regulators have reportedly sided against tech giant Apple in its prolonged battle with Spotify over App Store policies.

The crux of the matter revolves around Apple's alleged "anti-steering" rules, accused of inhibiting platforms like Spotify from effectively promoting alternative payment methods.

This ruling – set to impact not only the music-streaming industry but also any software requiring a monthly subscription – is currently awaiting finalisation with a...

14 December 2023 | App Stores

Developers sue Apple over ‘excessive’ App Store fees

More than 1,500 developers in the UK have banded together to sue Apple, alleging that the tech giant's App Store fees are "excessive" and harmful to both developers and consumers. 

The class-action lawsuit, led by Sean Ennis, a professor at the University of East Anglia Centre for Competition Policy and a former OECD economist, is seeking £785 million (€912 million) in compensation for the affected app creators.

At the core of the legal challenge is Apple's policy of...

25 July 2023 | App Stores

Google proposes allowing Android developers to use alternative billing systems

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has invited developers and interested parties to respond to Google's proposal to allow Android developers to use alternative billing systems.

“Google’s complete control over in-app payments raised concerns this unfairly restricted app developers – by forcing them to use Google Play’s billing system – putting distance between them and their customers and reducing competition, to the detriment of Google Play users,” said...

20 April 2023 | Android

Over 1,000 experts call for halt to ‘out-of-control’ AI development

Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and over 1,000 other experts have called for a halt to “out-of-control” AI development.

In an open letter, the experts call for a six-month halt on the development of AI technology more powerful than OpenAI’s GPT-4 over the “profound risks to society and humanity”.

The 600-word letter is aimed at AI developers and justifies the call for a pause because “recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and...

29 March 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Sony accused of ‘blatant anti-competitive conduct’

Congress has raised concerns about Sony's monopoly on the gaming market in Japan, calling for an investigation into the firm's alleged "exclusionary conduct."

Senator Maria Cantwell told a Senate Finance Committee hearing: “Sony controls a monopoly of 98 percent of the high-end game market, yet Japan's government has allowed Sony to engage in blatant anti-competitive conduct through exclusive deals and payments to game publishers.”

Cantwell called on US Trade...

28 March 2023 | Gaming

Apple letter urges lawmakers to reject sideloading bill

Apple has written a letter urging lawmakers to reject a bill that would force the company to allow any apps to be installed on its mobile operating systems.

The letter, addressed to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin and Republican Chuck Grassley, claims the proposed bill will hurt user privacy and security if passed.

In question is the S. 2710 bill that would allow software downloaded from the web or other sources to be “sideloaded” on iOS.

“Sideloading...

4 February 2022 | App Stores

Apple set to be charged with being anti-competitive by the EU for limiting NFC

The EU is reportedly set to charge Apple for being anti-competitive due to locking down how its NFC technology can be used.

EU antitrust regulators opened an investigation into Apple Pay in June last year over concerns that it unfairly shuts out competitors and gives Apple’s own service an advantage.

According to Reuters’ sources, the EU is currently drafting objections which are due to be sent to Apple next year.

Apple takes a notoriously “walled...

6 October 2021 | Developer

Apple is now facing an antitrust investigation in Germany

Germany’s competition watchdog, the Bundeskartellamt, has announced the launch of its own antitrust investigation into Apple’s practices.

Apple will now face yet another probe into its oft-criticised “walled garden” and whether it abuses its market position with unfair policies.

"An ecosystem which extends across various markets may be an indication that a company holds such a position,” the Bundeskartellamt said. “It is often very difficult for other...

21 June 2021 | App Stores

Epic calls out Apple in ‘Nineteen-Eighty Fortnite’ video following App Store removal

Epic Games has released a 1984 (or "Nineteen-Eighty Fortnite")-style parody of Apple's own famous video after Fortnite was removed from the App Store.

Apple removed the hit game after Epic attempted to circumvent the App Store's built-in payment systems. Not long after, Epic started the #FreeFortnite campaign and released this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euiSHuaw6Q4

Epic is among the increasing number of companies, developers, and even lawmakers that are...

14 August 2020 | App Stores