CMA shelves app store probes to leverage digital market powers

Signalling its intent to leverage new powers granted by the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act (DMCCA), the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has closed its investigations into Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store.

The investigations – launched over concerns that both tech giants were unfairly leveraging their dominant market positions, to the detriment of UK app developers and consumers – focused primarily on rules mandating the use of proprietary...

21 August 2024 | Android

Google: Third-party stores in Play Store would cost over $61M

In the wake of Epic Games' victory against Google last December, where a jury ruled that the Google Play app store and Google Play Billing constitute illegal monopolies, the tech giant has revealed the potential costs of implementing court-ordered changes to Android.

Google estimates that integrating third-party app stores within its Play Store would cost between $61.3 million and $137 million, according to documents submitted to the court. This comes in response to Judge James...

25 June 2024 | Android

Epic to launch iOS and Android store with controversial 12% cut

In the ongoing saga of tech giants battling over App Store fees and policies, Epic Games is being accused of hypocrisy as it attempts to introduce its own 12 percent commission store.

The gaming company – joined by heavyweights like Meta, Microsoft, X, and Match Group – is protesting against Apple's handling of App Store fees and its anti-steering policy in California.

Following a series of legal battles between Apple and Epic, which mostly ended in Apple's favour, a...

21 March 2024 | Android

App Store antitrust case is ‘firing on all cylinders’

Jonathan Kanter, the head of the Department of Justice's antitrust unit, is intensifying the case against Apple over its App Store policies.

According to the Financial Times, Kanter – who assumed the role in November 2021 – has stated that the investigation is now "firing on all cylinders."

For years, regulators, businesses, and enforcers have sought to dismantle Apple's tightly integrated iOS ecosystem. Despite Apple's staunch defence, recent developments indicate a...

2 January 2024 | App Stores

Google settles Play Store antitrust lawsuit

Google has reached a settlement in the antitrust lawsuit filed by 36 US states and the District of Columbia, including announcing changes that will impact users and developers.

As part of the settlement, Google will cough up $700 million. The breakdown includes $630 million earmarked for a settlement fund benefiting consumers and an additional $70 million directed towards a fund for the states, with distribution details yet to be disclosed.

Developers can also expect...

19 December 2023 | Android

Epic Games wins monopoly case against Google

In a landmark decision, the jury in the Epic Games vs Google case has unanimously ruled that Google Play and the Play Billing service constitute an illegal monopoly.

The verdict comes three years after Epic Games initiated legal action against both Apple and Google, accusing them of maintaining unlawful app store monopolies.

The jury – after just a few hours of deliberation – affirmed that Google holds monopoly power in the Android app distribution and in-app billing...

12 December 2023 | Android

CAF report highlights developers’ plight from anti-competitive practices

A report from the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF) highlights the difficulties that developers face due to anti-competitive practices.

CAF is an independent nonprofit with over 60 member companies that advocates for freedom of choice and fair competition across the app ecosystem. Epic Games, which has regularly made headlines for its court battles against Apple over alleged anti-competitive practices, is one of CAF’s founding members.

The industry group is currently...

1 February 2022 | Android

Apple is fighting Russia’s decision to let developers promote alternative payments

Apple is requesting a judicial review of Russia’s decision that developers must be allowed to promote alternative payment options.

In August, the country’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) issued a warning to Apple that clause 3.1 of the App Store Guidelines – which prohibits iOS app developers from informing in-app users about the possibility to pay for their purchases outside the App Store – breaches Russian antimonopoly legislation.

FAS gave Apple until 30...

6 December 2021 | App Stores

Apple refutes US antitrust report saying devs are ‘primary beneficiaries’

Apple has issued a statement in response to a US House Judiciary report which accuses the company of running a monopoly.

The report (PDF) specifically takes issue with the App Store and echoes concerns from lawmakers and developers around the world that Apple’s practices are anticompetitive.

Here is Apple’s statement in full:

"We have always said that scrutiny is reasonable and appropriate but we vehemently disagree with the conclusions reached in this...

7 October 2020 | App Stores

Epic calls out Apple in ‘Nineteen-Eighty Fortnite’ video following App Store removal

Epic Games has released a 1984 (or "Nineteen-Eighty Fortnite")-style parody of Apple's own famous video after Fortnite was removed from the App Store.

Apple removed the hit game after Epic attempted to circumvent the App Store's built-in payment systems. Not long after, Epic started the #FreeFortnite campaign and released this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euiSHuaw6Q4

Epic is among the increasing number of companies, developers, and even lawmakers that are...

14 August 2020 | App Stores