<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
     xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
     xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
     xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
     xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
     xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss"
     xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#"
     xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
    <channel>
        <title><![CDATA[EU officials launch antitrust probes of Apple’s App Store, Apple Pay]]></title>
        <atom:link href="https://usagag.com/2020/06/16/eu-officials-launch-antitrust-probes-of-apples-app-store-apple-pay/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
        <link>https://usagag.com/2020/06/16/eu-officials-launch-antitrust-probes-of-apples-app-store-apple-pay/</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2020 17:27:04 +0000</lastBuildDate>
        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
        <generator>https://usagag.com</generator>
        <media:content url="/uploads/2020/06/eu-officials-launch-antitrust-probes-of-apples-app-store-apple-pay.jpg" medium="image">
            <media:title type="html">EU officials launch antitrust probes of Apple’s App Store, Apple Pay</media:title>
        </media:content>
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>European Union regulators have launched two antitrust investigations focused on whether Apple violated competition rules in its App Store and its mobile payment service.</p><p>The probes mark the European Commission&#8217;s latest crackdown on tech giants over competition concerns. Regulators could fine Apple up to 10 percent of its annual revenue if they find the company broke competition law.</p><p>One of the probes will examine Apple&#8217;s practice of forcing developers to use its proprietary system for purchases made through iPhone and iPad apps, commission officials said Tuesday. The California-based tech giant charges developers a 30 percent commission for such purchases and<span > restricts them from telling users about cheaper purchasing options, according to EU officials. </span></p><p><span >Regulators raised concerns that the practice distorts competition for music streaming services on Apple devices following a 2019 complaint from Spotify. Ebooks distributor Kobo reportedly filed a similar complaint in March.</span></p><p>&#8220;It appears that Apple obtained a &#8216;gatekeeper&#8217; role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apple&#8217;s popular devices,&#8221; European Commission executive vice president Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.</p><p>&#8220;We need to ensure that Apple&#8217;s rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, for example with its music streaming service Apple Music or with Apple Books.&#8221;</p><p>The commission&#8217;s other probe will examine whether Apple Pay&#8217;s terms and conditions governing its integration with merchant apps and websites hurt competition and reduce choices, officials said.</p><p>Regulators say they will also examine Apple&#8217;s alleged efforts to restrict access to Apple Pay for rivals&#8217; products. Apple Pay is currently the only mobile payment service that can be used with the &#8220;tap and go&#8221; technology embedded in iPhones, according to EU officials.</p><p>In a statement, Apple said it follows the law and slammed the European Commission for &#8220;advancing baseless complaints from a handful of companies who simply want a free ride, and don’t want to play by the same rules as everyone else.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;We don’t think that’s right — we want to maintain a level playing field where anyone with determination and a great idea can succeed,&#8221; Apple said.</p><p>The European Commission announced the probes following a report that it plans to <strong>bring antitrust charges</strong> against e-commerce giant Amazon for allegedly copying third-party products. EU regulators also <strong>fined Google $5 billion</strong> in 2018 for anti-competitive behavior related to its Android operating system for smartphones.</p>]]></content:encoded>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[USAGAG]]></dc:creator>
            </channel>
</rss><!--Time: 0.068373918533325-->