In a surprising move, Apple is asking a Chinese court to modify its written decision in an antitrust lawsuit Apple itself won. This unusual request highlights the delicate balance Apple must navigate as an American company operating in China, the world’s leading smartphone market. According to a ruling by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court in May, Apple did not abuse its market power and has not charged unfairly high App Store commission fees. Pei Li for Bloomberg News: ‎ Apple has filed a petition asking the Supreme People’s Court to make tweaks to select sentences in a ruling that ended a dispute over the cut of app revenue it takes from most developers, according to an excerpt of the filing…

European Union antitrust regulators charged on Monday that Apple breached the bloc’s tech rules, a charge that could result in a hefty fine for the iPhone maker which also faces another investigation into new fees imposed on app developers. The European Commission has until March next year to issue a final decision. DMA violations could result in a fine of as much as 10% of a company’s global annual revenue. Reuters: ‎ EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager cited issues with Apple’s new terms, saying that they fell short of complying with the DMA. Apple can avoid a fine if it can address the concerns by modifying its business terms. She said it was up to Apple to decide how to…

As we stand at the crossroads of technological evolution, Apple Inc. finds itself at the forefront of innovation and market dynamics. The next decade promises a plethora of opportunities and challenges for the tech giant, as it continues to shape the future of consumer electronics, software, and services. In this article, we will explore the key factors that are expected to influence Apple's trajectory over the next 10 years. (more…)

Apple said on Tuesday it plans to ask a U.S. District Judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and 15 U.S. states in March that alleged the company monopolized the smartphone market, hurting smaller rivals and driving up prices. David Shepardson for Reuters: ‎ In a letter to U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals in New Jersey, Apple said “far from being a monopolist, Apple faces fierce competition from well-established rivals, and the complaint fails to allege that Apple has the ability to charge supra-competitive prices or restrict output in the alleged smartphone markets.” In the letter to the judge, Apple said the DOJ relies on a new “theory of antitrust liability that no court…

Apple is challenging a €1.8 billion (US$1.9 billion) European Union fine alleging the company thwarted fair competition among music-streaming rivals, including the perpetually whining Spotify. Samuel Stolton for Bloomberg News: ‎ [Apple] has filed a suit at the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg to topple the March decision, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. The EU’s crackdown on Apple also included an order to stop preventing music-streaming apps from informing users of cheaper deals away from its App Store. Apple’s appeal sets up yet another court battle with the EU regulator, which previously slapped the Cupertino, California-based company with a record €13 billion tax bill in a dispute over Irish state aid. The…

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ)’s antitrust case accusing Apple of somehow unlawfully monopolizing the smartphone market without having a monopoly was reassigned to U.S. District Judge Julien Neals in New Jersey on Wednesday after another judge recused himself due to a potential conflict of interest. Mike Scarcella for Reuters: ‎ U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, who had been assigned to handle it, in a brief order said he was required to recuse from the case based on a judicial ethics rule that can restrict judges from hearing disputes in which they or a family member have some close connection or financial tie. The order said his recusal was mandatory, but Farbiarz did not state the precise reason for his disqualification.…