European Commission

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The EU Wants All Phones to Work With Interoperable Chargers, Here’s What That Means for Apple's Lightning Port

Friday February 21, 2020 9:29 am PST by
Despite pushback from Apple, the European Parliament in January voted overwhelmingly for new rules to establish a common charging standard for mobile device makers across the European Union. This article explores what form the EU laws might ultimately take and how they could affect Apple device users in Europe and elsewhere. What Exactly is the EU Calling For? To reduce cost, electronic...

European Commission Articles

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European Commission Launches Internet of Things Probe Targeting Siri, Alexa and More

Thursday July 16, 2020 9:39 am PDT by
Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, and other voice assistants and connected home products are the target of a new Internet of Things probe the European Commission launched today. The European Commission says that it's aiming to prevent big companies from becoming "gatekeepers" of the Internet of Things through market domination and data collection. The potential is incredible. But we'll only...
EU apple tax

Apple Wins Backing of EU General Court Over 13 Billion Euro Tax Bill

Wednesday July 15, 2020 2:41 am PDT by
The EU General Court today overturned a ruling by the European Commission stating that Apple should pay 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in tax to the Irish government. The court sided with Apple, and said the EU authority, led by antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, had failed to show Ireland's tax arrangements with the company were illegal state aid. Today's decision can be appealed. Both ...
European Commisssion

EU Announces Investigations into App Store In-App Purchase Rules and Apple Pay

Tuesday June 16, 2020 3:50 am PDT by
The European Commission today said it has opened two formal antitrust investigations into Apple's App Store and Apple Pay mobile payment system. The first investigation will assess whether Apple's rules for app developers on the distribution of apps via the ‌App Store‌ violate EU competition rules. It will focus in particular on the mandatory use of Apple's own in-app purchases system...
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Apple Faces New EU Antitrust Complaint Over 30% App Store Commission Rate

Tuesday June 16, 2020 2:38 am PDT by
Apple is facing another European antitrust complaint, this time over its 30 percent cut on ebooks in the App Store. The complaint was made to the European Commission by Rakuten's Kobo subsidiary, which alleges that Apple's commission rate is anti-competitive when it also promotes its own Apple Books service. According to a Financial Times report, Kobo argues that having to pay Apple 30...
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EU Lawmakers Vote Overwhelmingly in Favor of Common Charging Standard, Despite Apple's Protestations [Updated]

Friday January 31, 2020 1:27 am PST by
Despite criticism from Apple, EU lawmakers on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in favor for new rules to establish a common charger for all mobile device makers across Europe (via Reuters). Members of the European Parliament voted by 582-40 for a resolution urging the European Commission, which drafts EU laws, to ensure that EU consumers are no longer obliged to buy new chargers with each new...
lightning usb c iphone

European Lawmakers Want to Force All Smartphones to Have Same Charging Port, Apple Defends Lightning

Monday January 13, 2020 6:35 am PST by
With goals of reducing waste and increasing convenience, European lawmakers today will debate whether all smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices should have a standardized charging port such as USB-C. At least some members of the European Parliament want "binding measures" that ensure one type of charger is compatible with all portable devices, as the European Commission's previous...
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Apple Says Spotify Only Pays 15% Fee on About 0.5% of Subscribers in Response to App Store Complaint

Monday June 24, 2019 9:51 am PDT by
Apple has filed a response to Spotify's anticompetitive complaint about the App Store in Europe, noting that Spotify pays Apple a 15 percent commission for only about 0.5 percent of its paying subscribers, according to CNET. That figure equates to around 680,000 users who subscribed to Spotify through its iOS app, via Apple's in-app purchase system, between 2014 and 2016. This is because...
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European Regulators Awaiting Response From Apple After Spotify Called the App Store a Monopoly

Monday June 3, 2019 7:40 am PDT by
The European Commission is awaiting a response from Apple after Spotify accused the iPhone maker of anticompetitive business practices in relation to its App Store, said the European Union's antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager. "We are looking into that and we have been asking questions around in that market but of course also Apple themselves, for them to answer the allegations. And when...
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EU to Investigate Apple Over Spotify's Antitrust Complaint

Monday May 6, 2019 1:48 am PDT by
Apple is to be formally investigated by the European Commission after Spotify accused the company of using the App Store to deliberately disadvantage other app developers. According to a report by the Financial Times, EU competition commission has decided to launch a formal antitrust investigation into Apple's conduct "in the next few weeks" after surveying customers, rivals and others in...
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Spotify Files Complaint Against Apple With European Regulators Over 'Unfair' App Store Practices

Wednesday March 13, 2019 5:37 am PDT by
Spotify has filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission, accusing the iPhone maker of enforcing App Store rules that "purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience" and "acting as both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers." In a blog post, Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek took particular issue with...
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European Regulators Concerned Apple's Proposed Shazam Acquisition Could Hurt Competitors Like Spotify

Monday April 23, 2018 8:51 am PDT by
The European Commission today announced it has opened an in-depth investigation into Apple's proposed acquisition of Shazam. The regulators are concerned that the merger could reduce choice for users of streaming music services in Europe. In particular, they believe that Apple could gain access to sensitive data that could allow Apple to directly target its competitors' customers and...
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European Regulators Set April 23 Deadline to Decide on Apple's Proposed Shazam Acquisition

Thursday March 15, 2018 4:41 am PDT by
The European Commission today announced it has set a provisional deadline of April 23 to decide on Apple's proposed acquisition of Shazam. Last month, the regulatory body said it would consider whether Apple's purchase of the popular music identification service may lead to a significant adverse effect on competition in Europe, after Austria, France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Sweden ...
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European Regulators to Review if Apple Acquiring Shazam Will Significantly Hurt Competition

Tuesday February 6, 2018 8:30 am PST by
The European Commission today announced it has accepted requests from Austria, France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Sweden to assess Apple's proposed acquisition of Shazam. The agreement is still pending approval. The regulatory body will consider whether the transaction may lead to a significant adverse effect on competition in Europe:On the basis of the elements submitted by Austria...
EU apple tax

E.U. to Take Ireland to Court For Failing to Claim Apple Tax

Wednesday October 4, 2017 5:13 am PDT by
The European Commission said on Wednesday it will take Ireland to court for its failure to recover up to 13 billion euros ($15.3 billion) of tax due from Apple (via Reuters). Apple was ordered to pay the unpaid taxes in August 2016 after the Commission ruled that the company had received illegal state aid. The Commission argued that Irish revenue commissioners gave Apple unfair advantage...
European Commisssion

Mobile Roaming Charges Abolished in the EU

Thursday June 15, 2017 1:57 am PDT by
A new European Union law came into effect on Thursday that abolishes roaming charges for people using mobile phones abroad. The new rules mean that EU citizens traveling within the EU that call, text, and browse the internet on their mobile devices will be charged the same price they pay in their home country. Previously, roaming charges were added to the cost of calls, SMS messages, and web ...
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European Commission Made 'Fundamental Errors' in Irish Tax Ruling, Says Apple

Tuesday February 21, 2017 1:46 am PST by
Apple has claimed that the European Commission made "fundamental errors" when it ruled last year that the company owed Ireland 13 billion euros ($13.7 billion) in unpaid taxes plus interest. Apple appealed the commission's decision in December, but on Monday the company published a piece in the Official Journal of the European Union detailing 14 pleas in law to support its action, according to ...
EU apple tax

Apple Set to Appeal EU Tax Ruling This Week

Monday December 19, 2016 1:37 am PST by
Apple is set to appeal this week against the European Commission's ruling that it must pay up to 13 billion euros ($13.8 billion) to Ireland in back taxes (via Reuters). EU regulators concluded in August that Apple had received undue tax benefits from Ireland – where the company's European headquarters are located – which allowed it to pay substantially less than other companies. Apple ...
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European Union Moves Forward With Plans to Eliminate Roaming Charges Next Year

Thursday December 8, 2016 8:25 am PST by
European Commission members met on Wednesday to discuss draft rules intended to eliminate roaming charges in the European Union as of June 15, 2017. (Image: TapSmart) The Commission said it is determined to put an end to roaming charges commonly billed by carriers when a customer calls, sends messages, or uses data on their mobile device while abroad in the European Union, outside of their...
EU apple tax

Ireland to Formally Appeal $14 Billion Apple Tax Ruling This Week

Tuesday November 8, 2016 8:06 am PST by
Ireland's government will this week formally submit an appeal against the European Commission's ruling that it must collect 13 billion euros in unpaid back taxes from Apple, according to Ireland's finance minister Michael Noonan."The government fundamentally disagrees with the European Commission's analysis and the decision left no choice but to take an appeal to the European Courts and this will ...
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Apple Facing European Commission's Tax Ruling Without a Lobbying Presence in Brussels

Monday September 26, 2016 5:21 am PDT by
Following the European Commission's ruling that Apple must pay 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in back taxes because of its "undue tax benefits" in Ireland, The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that Apple is facing the EC "without the army of lobbyists and public relations campaigners typical in such fights." The company's lack of a lobbying presence in Europe isn't new, however, ...