The antitrust regulators I’ve had my magnifying glass pointed at me for a long time Apple. The reason for these attentions is simple: at present, a user with iPhone is forced to pass byApp Store to be able to get software for your phone.
In the context of this digital platform, therefore, the Cupertino giant has total control, with commissions to the developers who go dal 15% al 30%. Anyone who does not accept these conditions is effectively cut off from the App Store.
This type of scenario ended up in the crosshairs of UE and other regulatory bodies, as it is considered a violation of competition law. Precisely in the European context, the DMA (Digital Markets Act) is in stark contrast to Apple’s actions.
Regulations in hand, the company has until April this year to comply with EU parameters. At this point a little twist comes into play, with Apple stating that it actually owns several entities in addition to the App Store that perform similar tasks.
The move by Apple and its lawyers: this is why we are talking about five App Stores
As reported by Reutersaccording to Apple the European Commission has committed “Material clerical errors in concluding that the applicant’s five App Stores constitute a single primary service platform“. This is what the company’s lawyers argued in its application to the Luxembourg Court.
According to the lawyers, the five App Stores are divided by specific platform, with one for iPhone, one for iPadone per computer Macanother for Apple TV and one for Apple Watch. In fact, Apple aims to consider the store of each device as separate from the others, with smaller numbers for each of them. This would significantly ease its position with respect to competition law.
Despite this, it should be considered that this “loophole” does not seem very effective. Alone, in terms of numbers and turnover, even the only store dedicated to iOS exceeds the user numbers considered critical for the DMA. In any case, for lawyers this move could still bring advantages to Apple, waiting for what could happen next April.