Tim Hardwick
The European Commission has ended its antitrust investigation into Apple's App Store rules for e-book and audiobook apps after the e-book distributor withdrew a complaint.
The investigation, originally launched in June 2020, was triggered by a complaint from Rakuten subsidiary Kobo. Kobo argued that Apple’s mandatory 30% commission on App Store purchases made it virtually impossible to operate profitably by competing with Apple Books, which is not subject to the same commission structure.
The investigation looked into Apple’s requirements for developers to use its in-app purchasing system, as well as restrictions that prevent developers from informing iPhone and iPad users about cheaper purchasing options outside the App Store.
While this particular investigation has been closed, the Commission said the closure does not mean Apple’s actions are in line with EU competition rules. Apple continues to face scrutiny under both EU competition law and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which designates Apple as a “gatekeeper” and requires changes to its App Store practices.
The eBooks investigation was one of three parallel investigations launched by the Commission in 2020. In March 2024, the Commission fined Apple for its music streaming app practices.
Note: Due to the political and social nature of the discussion on this topic, the thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors can read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Tags: Apple Antitrust, European Commission, European Union[ 40 comments ]
