In the ruthless world of tech giants, each legal decision can topple an empire. Apple, juggernaut among juggernauts, has just avoided a major sentence. The antitrust investigation led by the European Commission into App Store rules for ebooks has been closed, following the withdrawal of a complaint filed by a distributor.
A long-term battle
It all started in June 2020 when Kobo, a subsidiary of Rakuten, issued a scathing complaint. His argument? The 30% commission imposed by Apple on each in-app purchase would make competition unfair with Apple Books. An accusation which did not go unnoticed in Brussels.
The Commission then scrutinized Apple’s practices: obligation to use its in-app purchasing systemrestrictions preventing developers from informing users of cheaper purchasing options outside the App Store… But with the withdrawal of Kobo’s complaint, the investigation finds itself unfounded.
Apple is not out of the woods
Let’s not declare victory too quickly for Apple though. The closure of this investigation does not mean that its practices are beyond reproach in the eyes of the EU. Like a sword of Damocles, the Digital Markets Act still hangs over Cupertino.
This text, which designates Apple as “gatekeeper”, requires major changes in the management of the App Store. Concretely, the apple firm must open its secret garden to competition, under penalty ofa fine of up to 8 billion euros. A sum that would make even the biggest people pale.
This investigation was just one of Apple’s many legal battles. In March 2024, the Commission fined it for its practices related to music streaming. And this is probably only the beginning of a long series, because, with the DMA, the European commissioners are giving themselves the means to achieve their ambitions: bring GAFAM into line. Apple, despite its aura, does not escape this desire for regulation.
By : Keleops AG
