Apple probed in Japan for anti-competitive moves against Yahoo game platform

Posted:
in General Discussion edited August 2018
The Japanese government has opened an investigation into whether Apple engaged in anti-competitive behavior when it applied pressure to prevent publishers from working with Yahoo Japan's Games Plus platform.

Japan Apple Store


According to a report by news service Nikkei, Japan's Fair Trade Commission is acting on reports that Apple leaned on business partners to not cooperate with the Yahoo platform, from which Yahoo has since pulled back. What exactly Apple did to apply pressure has not been reported.

The FTC, the report said, is investigating whether Apple violated the country's Anti-Monopoly Act. SoftBank Group, which is Yahoo's largest shareholder and also deals with Apple as owner of Sprint, has stepped in as a mediator.

The Game Plus Plan

Game Plus was an effort by Yahoo Japan to launch a web-based gaming platform. Its unique business model, under which more than 50 companies agreed to work, was to place games on the web without the need for apps, and to monetize data from users.

But last fall, according to Yahoo, Apple began pressuring the partners to back away from the Yahoo effort, and many did, including Square Enix. This was with the apparent belief that the Yahoo platform would do damage to the App Store. Yahoo has since cut its budget for the platform and mostly stopped promoting it.

Yahoo Japan was formed as part of a joint venture between Yahoo and Softbank in 1996. When the majority of Yahoo was sold to Verizon in 2016, Yahoo Japan was spun off separately, and continues to use the Yahoo name as part of a licensing agreement.

Japan vs. American tech

Japan's government as of late has been cracking down on American tech giants. In Japan, however, regulators do not have a large amount of power to crack down on overseas companies.

Earlier this year, Apple's retail chief Angela Ahrendts announced that the company will open several new Apple Stores in Japan in the next five years.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    "Yahoo told multiple business partners that it was forced to cut back because of pressure behind the scenes from Apple."

    Yahoo is a failed company! They are on the verge of nonexistence. They had to spin off their non-performing assets (virtually everything they owned) and they kept a large chunk of Alibaba stock. They basically became a stock holding company, which is just ridiculous.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 11
    "Yahoo told multiple business partners that it was forced to cut back because of pressure behind the scenes from Apple."

    Yahoo is a failed company! They are on the verge of nonexistence. They had to spin off their non-performing assets (virtually everything they owned) and they kept a large chunk of Alibaba stock. They basically became a stock holding company, which is just ridiculous.
    Weren't they bought by Verizon? They are no longer a company, if so, and Verizon can shut them down Or end the band name if they desire.
  • Reply 3 of 11
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 1,999member
    "Yahoo told multiple business partners that it was forced to cut back because of pressure behind the scenes from Apple."

    Yahoo is a failed company! They are on the verge of nonexistence. They had to spin off their non-performing assets (virtually everything they owned) and they kept a large chunk of Alibaba stock. They basically became a stock holding company, which is just ridiculous.

    Did you guys not read?  Yahoo Japan is no longer connected with Yahoo and uses the name und license.



    [Deleted User]
  • Reply 4 of 11
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 1,999member
    "Yahoo told multiple business partners that it was forced to cut back because of pressure behind the scenes from Apple."

    Yahoo is a failed company! They are on the verge of nonexistence. They had to spin off their non-performing assets (virtually everything they owned) and they kept a large chunk of Alibaba stock. They basically became a stock holding company, which is just ridiculous.
    Weren't they bought by Verizon? They are no longer a company, if so, and Verizon can shut them down Or end the band name if they desire.

    Please re-read the article.  This is about Yahoo Japan, not the Yahoo bought by Verizon.
    [Deleted User]
  • Reply 5 of 11
    Japan is investigating Apple for making competitive moves, thereby being anti-competitive. 
    Wut?

    SpamSandwichwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 11
    Well, at least I trust Japan legal procedure more than South Korea, and South Korea much more than China for that matter. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 11
    Japan is investigating Apple for making competitive moves, thereby being anti-competitive. 
    Wut?

    Strange thing huh, in countries outside of the US, you actually have to compete fairly. Quite shocked that a company with such a focus on ethics and morals in some departments seemingly have neither in other departments.
  • Reply 8 of 11
    spice-boyspice-boy Posts: 1,450member
    Quick everybody start trashing Japan, defend Apple at all cost and maybe as a reward Apple will release a Mac Pro next week. 
  • Reply 9 of 11
    spice-boyspice-boy Posts: 1,450member
    Japan is investigating Apple for making competitive moves, thereby being anti-competitive. 
    Wut?

    Each country has it's own laws and Apple as well as any other global corporation knows that when they set up shop there. Don't blame Japan for enforcing their laws blame Apple for ignoring those laws.
  • Reply 10 of 11
    spice-boyspice-boy Posts: 1,450member

    "Yahoo told multiple business partners that it was forced to cut back because of pressure behind the scenes from Apple."

    Yahoo is a failed company! They are on the verge of nonexistence. They had to spin off their non-performing assets (virtually everything they owned) and they kept a large chunk of Alibaba stock. They basically became a stock holding company, which is just ridiculous.
    That's like saying you can run down and elderly person because they were old and going to die sooner or later. An immoral point of view you have. 
  • Reply 11 of 11
    spice-boyspice-boy Posts: 1,450member

    chadbag said:
    "Yahoo told multiple business partners that it was forced to cut back because of pressure behind the scenes from Apple."

    Yahoo is a failed company! They are on the verge of nonexistence. They had to spin off their non-performing assets (virtually everything they owned) and they kept a large chunk of Alibaba stock. They basically became a stock holding company, which is just ridiculous.
    Weren't they bought by Verizon? They are no longer a company, if so, and Verizon can shut them down Or end the band name if they desire.

    Please re-read the article.  This is about Yahoo Japan, not the Yahoo bought by Verizon.
    Reading is too much effort these folks are here to defend Apple blindly. 
    majorsl
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