It would be a very difficult for the government to prove Apple is harming customers with their App Store. As a generalization, most of the companies complaining owe a large part of their success if not all, to Apple.
I would be interested in data to verify my assumption.
This is not about proof. I’ve always said if they go after Google, then Apple will be next.
Apple has monopoly on??? Apps store? Nope. Search engine? Nope. Social media? Nope. Smartphones? Nope. Watch? Nope. Software? Nope. Laptops? Nope. Smart speakers? HUGE nope.
Only they have a monopoly on the App Store. If anyone wants an app on their hardware, then they are required to go through Apple and their App Store. If they want to sell anything, Apple takes a cut whether you want to or not.
There is no other platform that does that.
If I want an app on an Android device, I do not require Google's Play Store.
If I want to an app on Windows, I don't need the Microsoft Store.
If I want to an app on a Mac, I don't need the App Store.
It IS required for iOS.
If you remember one of the issues they got Microsoft on, it was not allowing competing browsers installed by default. Even though anyone could freely go to their site and download and install, it was still seen as anticompetitive.
If you look at that, what Apple and iOS does is even more anti-competitive. They not only bundle their software (no option to have the device with them not installed out of the box), and does not have any competing software installed by default. It's not a matter of being able to change or uninstall (Microsoft provided the same options). Even more, if you want your software on them, you are required to go through Apple to get them installed.
Not saying it's a good or bad system, or whether Microsoft should have been found guilty, it's just on past wins in monopoly or anti-competitive behavior, Apple is just as guilty as Microsoft was.
Only they have a monopoly on the App Store. If anyone wants an app on their hardware, then they are required to go through Apple and their App Store. If they want to sell anything, Apple takes a cut whether you want to or not.
There is no other platform that does that.
If I want an app on an Android device, I do not require Google's Play Store.
If I want to an app on Windows, I don't need the Microsoft Store.
If I want to an app on a Mac, I don't need the App Store.
It IS required for iOS.
If you remember one of the issues they got Microsoft on, it was not allowing competing browsers installed by default. Even though anyone could freely go to their site and download and install, it was still seen as anticompetitive.
If you look at that, what Apple and iOS does is even more anti-competitive. They not only bundle their software (no option to have the device with them not installed out of the box), and does not have any competing software installed by default. It's not a matter of being able to change or uninstall (Microsoft provided the same options). Even more, if you want your software on them, you are required to go through Apple to get them installed.
Not saying it's a good or bad system, or whether Microsoft should have been found guilty, it's just on past wins in monopoly or anti-competitive behavior, Apple is just as guilty as Microsoft was.
Apple does not have a monopoly. It’s like saying Walmart has a monopoly on Walmart stores. It is non-sensical.
But Apple might be guilty of illegal bundling. I don’t know if there is precedent for bundling a software service exclusively with a hardware product. There was a case about selling support services that I think was decided for the vendor but it is too vague for me too look up right now.
Finally, Microsoft was an actual monopoly (and still is.) That makes the rules different. Nothing about the Microsoft monopoly case will apply to Apple.
Comments
But Apple might be guilty of illegal bundling. I don’t know if there is precedent for bundling a software service exclusively with a hardware product. There was a case about selling support services that I think was decided for the vendor but it is too vague for me too look up right now.
Finally, Microsoft was an actual monopoly (and still is.) That makes the rules different. Nothing about the Microsoft monopoly case will apply to Apple.