EU Closes Antitrust Probe Into Apple’s Book App Retailer Guidelines

The European Fee has ended its antitrust investigation into Apple’s App Retailer guidelines for e book and audiobook apps, following the withdrawal of a criticism by an e book distributor.

Initially launched in June 2020, the investigation was sparked by a criticism from Rakuten’s Kobo subsidiary. Kobo had argued that Apple’s necessary 30% fee on App Retailer purchases made it nearly inconceivable to function profitably whereas competing with Apple Books, which is not topic to the identical price construction.

The probe examined Apple’s requirement that builders use its in-app buy system, and restrictions stopping builders from informing iPhone and iPad customers about cheaper buying choices outdoors the App Retailer.

Though this specific investigation has concluded, the Fee mentioned that the closure doesn’t point out Apple’s conduct complies with EU competitors guidelines. Apple nonetheless faces scrutiny underneath each EU competitors legal guidelines and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which designates Apple as a “gatekeeper” and requires adjustments to its App Retailer practices.

The e book investigation was certainly one of three parallel probes launched by the Fee in 2020. In March 2024, the Fee fined Apple over its music streaming app practices.

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