EU Antitrust Probes Target Apple, Twice: Business Casual

Powered by RedCircle

On today’s Business Casual segment, brought to you by MarketScale, co-hosts Tyler Kern and Daniel Litwin take on allegations against Apple that have resulted in two antitrust investigations being leveled at the company by the European Commission.

In recent months, the EU has launched anti-trust investigations into Google, Amazon and Facebook. And on Tuesday, June 16, the EU announced that it’s now launching two antitrust investigations into Apple’s App Store rules and the Apply Pay platform as well, seeking to assess whether Apple’s rules for app developers on the distribution of apps via the App Store breach EU competition rules.

While companies can place their apps on the App Store at no cost, Apple charges companies 30% from in-app purchases and 30% on subscriptions for the first year, then 15% thereafter. Reaching a new single day record of $386 million on January 1st  and generating $1 billion for the company each month—with $50 to $100 million of those revenues going directly to Apple—Spotify, which competes directly with Apple music, and Kobo, an e-reader company that competes with Apple Books, have filed complaints against the tech giant over the last year, stating that these practices are unfair, stifling and distorting competition by promoting Apple’s own books and music, while collecting and using customer data siphoned from Spotify and Kobo databases.

According to Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of EU’s competition policy, “We need to ensure that Apple’s rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, for example with its music streaming service Apple Music or with Apple Books. I have therefore decided to take a close look at Apple’s App Store rules and their compliance with EU competition rules.”

In a statement from Apple, the company asserts that, “Our goal is simple: for our customers to have access to the best app or service of their choice, in a safe and secure environment. We welcome the opportunity to show the European Commission all we’ve done to make that goal a reality.”

While Apple maintains that it’s done nothing wrong, Litwin and Kern delve deeper into the situation, pondering whether the EU’s maximum penalty of 10% of global revenues for breaking competition rules—just a drop in the bucket for this multinational tech giant, even though services represent 18% of Apple’s annual sales—will actually curb the company’s long-term business practices, and whether or not other solutions are necessary to help protect smaller app providers.

Keeping you informed of the newest trends and the hottest topics in B2B, tune into the Business Casual podcast each Wednesday and Friday. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to subscribe to our MarketScale Radio channel on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts where you can find all of our Business Casual, Ratified and other contributor shows; or go to Marketscale.com/Industries to view all of our live video and classic article content.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DXpedition
Icom Powers 3Y0K : Ham Radio’s Most Ambitious DXpedition to Remote Bouvet Island Part 1
July 11, 2025

Bouvet Island sits at the edge of the world. It is frozen, uninhabited, and almost impossible to access. Fewer people have set foot there than in space. That level of remoteness is exactly what makes it so valuable to amateur radio operators. The island ranks tenth on ClubLog’s list of Most Wanted DXCC entities,…

Read More
entrepreneurial success
The Hidden Key to Entrepreneurial Success: Build Momentum Through Personal Branding and Authentic Networking
July 10, 2025

What if the biggest pivot of your career started with a conversation?  In this episode of Professional Quotient, host Jason Winningham welcomes Fanny Dunagan, CEO and Content Strategist of PathLynks, LLC. Fanny shares her journey from high-pressure consulting in Singapore to founding her own media and branding company — and why learning to network…

Read More
Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More