Although Apple is on record as saying that it wants to see the EU’s Digital Markets Act either repealed or substantially revised, it is reportedly close to reaching a settlement with the antitrust regulator.
In public, the two have engaged in a pretty fierce war of words, but a new report claims that they are close to reaching a behind-the-scenes agreement …
A quick recap on Apple and the DMA
Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) antitrust legislation designated a number of tech companies as “gatekeepers” – meaning that they are powerful enough to use their market dominance to block competition.
Apple was designated a gatekeeper because it hit a minimum user threshold, with one concern its monopoly over the sale of iPhone apps. It was told that it must allow people to buy and sell iPhone apps outside of its own App Store. The company complied, and there are now several alternative app stores for iPhone apps.
The DMA also says that if Apple offers new iPhone-powered features that work with its own hardware, like AirPods, then it must make the same connected features available to third-party hardware companies. Apple says this poses significant privacy challenges, and that’s the reason that it has had to delay the launch of some new features within the EU.
A public war of words
Apple accused the EU of promoting unfair competition.
The DMA’s rules only apply to Apple, even though Samsung is the smartphone market leader in Europe, and Chinese companies are growing fast. Apple has led the way in building a unique, innovative ecosystem that others have copied — to the benefit of users everywhere. But instead of rewarding that innovation, the DMA singles Apple out while leaving our competitors free to continue as they always have.
The EU was equally vehement in its response.
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