Category: Monopoly

Alternatieve iPhone app stores stop working when you travel outside of the EU

Posted on by Robin Edgar

iOS 17.4 is the first version of Apple’s operating system to comply with the regulatory framework of the European Digital Markets Act. Apple must also support alternative app stores, where apps can be installed around the App Store. The availability of this functionality is only geographically limited to the EU, and Apple has revealed for Read more about Alternatieve iPhone app stores stop working when you travel outside of the EU[…]

EU fines Apple nearly $2B over in-app music purchases

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple’s anti-steering provisions that prevent music streaming apps from directing users outside the App Store for paid services were smacked down in the European Union today and earned the iGiant a fine of more than €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion). The European Commission said Apple’s policies “amount to unfair trading conditions” and “are neither necessary nor Read more about EU fines Apple nearly $2B over in-app music purchases[…]

a 3d android logo raising one arm horizontally as seen from a diagonal facing angle. There is a square moustache on the logo where the nose should be. The Singapore skyline is in the background.

Android users in Singapore to be blocked from installing apps from 3rd parties

Posted on by Robin Edgar

SINGAPORE – Android users here will be blocked from installing apps from unverified sources, a process called sideloading, as part of a new trial by Google to crack down on malware scams. The security tool will work in the background to detect apps that demand suspicious permissions, like those that grant the ability to spy Read more about Android users in Singapore to be blocked from installing apps from 3rd parties[…]

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

Shameless Insult, Malicious Compliance, Junk Fees, Extortion Regime: Industry Reacts To Apple’s Proposed Changes Over Digital Markets Act

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In response to new EU regulations, Apple on Thursday outlined plans to allow iOS developers to distribute apps outside the App Store starting in March, though developers must still submit apps for Apple’s review and pay commissions. Now critics say the changes don’t go far enough and Apple retains too much control. Epic Games CEO Read more about Shameless Insult, Malicious Compliance, Junk Fees, Extortion Regime: Industry Reacts To Apple’s Proposed Changes Over Digital Markets Act[…]

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple’s new rules in the European Union mean browsers like Firefox can finally use their own engines on iOS. Although this may seem like a welcome change, Mozilla spokesperson Damiano DeMonte tells The Verge it’s “extremely disappointed” with the way things turned out. “We are still reviewing the technical details but are extremely disappointed with Apple’s Read more about Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox[…]

Apple Isn’t Ready to Release Its Grip on the App Store

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] For the first time, new EU rules have forced the company to entertain the idea that you can shop for apps outside of Apple’s own App Store, as well as allow browsers other than Apple’s own Safari to run on iOS with their full suite of features. Yet critics say those changes, although drastic, Read more about Apple Isn’t Ready to Release Its Grip on the App Store[…]

EU forces Apple to open up to third-party app stores and payments. Details emerge what it will look like.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple is making major changes to the App Store and other core parts of iOS in Europe in response to new European Union laws. Beginning in March, Apple will allow users within the EU to download apps and make purchases from outside of its App Store. The company is already testing many of these changes Read more about EU forces Apple to open up to third-party app stores and payments. Details emerge what it will look like.[…]

Supreme Court declines appeals from Apple and Epic Games in App Store case

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeals filed by both Apple and Epic Games following a judge’s ruling that Apple must allow developers to offer alternative methods to pay for apps and services other than through the App Store. It did not provide an explanation as to why it refused to review Read more about Supreme Court declines appeals from Apple and Epic Games in App Store case[…]

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

I can have app store? Apple: yes but NO! Give €1,000,000 + lock in to Apple ecosystem. This is how to “comply” with EU anti competition law

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple is keeping a firm grip on people with alternative marketplaces, fleecing them for money but also for other control. Here are some of the terms Apple requires you to conform to in order to start up your own app store (which they call alternative marketplace): If you’re interested in becoming a marketplace developer in Read more about I can have app store? Apple: yes but NO! Give €1,000,000 + lock in to Apple ecosystem. This is how to “comply” with EU anti competition law[…]

HP sued (again) for blocking third-party ink from printers via security updates

Posted on by Robin Edgar

HP has used its “Dynamic Security” firmware updates to “create a monopoly” of replacement printer ink cartridges, a lawsuit filed against the company on January 5 claims. The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action certification, represents yet another form of litigation against HP for bricking printers when they try to use ink that doesn’t bear an Read more about HP sued (again) for blocking third-party ink from printers via security updates[…]

apple and google as monopoly characters holding big bags of cash in front of a store

Google to pay $700 million and make tiny app store changes to settle with 50 states

Posted on by Robin Edgar

On December 11th, a jury decided that Google has an illegal monopoly with its Google Play app store, handing Epic Games a win. But Epic wasn’t the only one fighting an antitrust case. All 50 state attorneys general settled a similar lawsuit in September, and we’ve just now learned what Google agreed to give up Read more about Google to pay $700 million and make tiny app store changes to settle with 50 states[…]

Jury finds Google’s Play store is illegal monopoly – now… Apple?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The case was heard by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. As The Register has reported, the matter tested Epic’s allegations that Google stifles competition by requiring developers to pay it commissions even if they use third-party payment services, and paid some developers to secure their exclusive presence on the Read more about Jury finds Google’s Play store is illegal monopoly – now… Apple?[…]

Google reportedly struck a special with Spotify that let it skip Play Store fees revealed in Epic vs Google lawsuit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Spotify struck a special deal with Google that lets it pay no commission to Google when people sign up for subscriptions using the music streaming service’s own payment system on Android, according to new testimony in the ongoing Epic v. Google trial first reported by The Verge. As part of the same deal, Spotify paid Read more about Google reportedly struck a special with Spotify that let it skip Play Store fees revealed in Epic vs Google lawsuit[…]

The EU DMA will finally free Windows users from Bing (but not Edge) and allow 3rd parties into the widgets

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft will soon let Windows 11 users in the European Economic Area (EEA) disable its Bing web search, remove Microsoft Edge, and even add custom web search providers — including Google if it’s willing to build one — into its Windows Search interface. All of these Windows 11 changes are part of key tweaks that Read more about The EU DMA will finally free Windows users from Bing (but not Edge) and allow 3rd parties into the widgets[…]

Unredacted documents in the FTC’s Amazon lawsuit shed light on the company’s secret price-gouging algorithm

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It looks like Amazon is hellbent on keeping its spot as the biggest online retailer — even if that means hurting both sellers and customers. In September, the FTC filed a long-expected antitrust lawsuit against Amazon over its alleged use of illegal strategies to stay on top. Details of the suit were previously withheld from Read more about Unredacted documents in the FTC’s Amazon lawsuit shed light on the company’s secret price-gouging algorithm[…]

Amazon Used Secret ‘Project Nessie’ Algorithm To Raise Price

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Amazon used an algorithm code-named “Project Nessie” to test how much it could raise prices in a way that competitors would follow, according to redacted portions of the Federal Trade Commission’s monopoly lawsuit against the company. From a report: The algorithm helped Amazon improve its profit on items across shopping categories, and because of the Read more about Amazon Used Secret ‘Project Nessie’ Algorithm To Raise Price[…]

Amazon Partially Wins Against EU Digital Services Act

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Amazon has partially won in an EU court case related to European Union ecommerce market regulation laws, which come under the Digital Services Act (DSA). On Thursday, the EU General Court ruled in favour of Amazon, by agreeing to suspend a requirement under the DSA that Amazon is obligated to follow and make an ads Read more about Amazon Partially Wins Against EU Digital Services Act[…]

FTC and 17 states finally go after Amazon monopoly in new antitrust lawsuit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The FTC – and 17 state attorneys general – have come out swinging at Amazon with a lawsuit accusing the ecommerce giant of being a monopolist. Amazon, the FTC alleges, engages in anticompetitive conduct in two markets: online ecommerce and also the market for marketplace services used by sellers. The tactics used by Amazon to Read more about FTC and 17 states finally go after Amazon monopoly in new antitrust lawsuit[…]

Google Pays $10 Billion a Year To Maintain Monopoly, US Says

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Alphabet’s Google pays more than $10 billion a year to maintain its position as the default search engine on web browsers and mobile devices, stifling competition, the US Justice Department said Tuesday at the start of a high-stakes antitrust trial in Washington. From a report: “This case is about the future of the internet and Read more about Google Pays $10 Billion a Year To Maintain Monopoly, US Says[…]

South Korea ‘puts the brakes’ on Google app store dominance

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A Wednesday statement from the Commission brought news that in late July it wrote to Google to inform it of the ₩42.1 billion ($31.5 million) fine announced, and reported by The Register, in April 2023. The Commission has also commenced monitoring activities to ensure that Google complies with requirements to allow competition with its Play Read more about South Korea ‘puts the brakes’ on Google app store dominance[…]

Amazon Now Punishes Merchants Who Ship Their Own Products – flexing monopoly!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Third-party merchants on Amazon who ship their own packages will see an additional fee for each product sold starting on Oct. 1st. Sellers could previously choose to ship their products without contributing to Amazon, but the new fee means members of Amazon’s Seller Fulfilled Prime program will be required to pay the company 2% on each Read more about Amazon Now Punishes Merchants Who Ship Their Own Products – flexing monopoly![…]

Spain antitrust watchdog fines Amazon, Apple $218 million for collusion and exclusion

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Spain’s antitrust watchdog on Tuesday said it had imposed fines worth a total 194.1 million euros ($218.03 million) on Amazon (AMZN.O) and Apple (AAPL.O) for colluding to limit the online sale of devices from Apple and competitors in Spain. The two contracts the companies signed on Oct. 31, 2018 granting Amazon the status of authorized Read more about Spain antitrust watchdog fines Amazon, Apple $218 million for collusion and exclusion[…]