This isn’t the only fine though. It’s one of several they’ve been hit by in recent years and more might be coming. They are also getting bigger over time.
Is Apple making over €500m in profit in the EU specifically as a result of anticompetitive practices involving music?
I’m all for punishing white collar crime severely, but the goal for the EU seems to be to set the fines so they’re not especially punitive, but still high enough that the offender would have saved money by just playing by the rules. That’s a damn sight better than what we usually get in the US.
I am also wondering where that amount comes from. Though I do not think it should be based on profit. A company can also be unprofitable on purpose in a region in order to destroy the competition an gain market share. Then after conquering the market they increase the prices again.
In this case I suppose it also be difficult to quantify the fine. Of course the duration of the anti-competitive behaviour should also be taken into consideration and apples low willingness to better itself. Is there any article explaining the 500m euro?
While the verdict isn’t public until its announcement “early next month”, the report suggests Apple unfairly prevented apps from suggesting payment methods outside of the App Store.
Spotify submitted their (first) complaint in 2019.
You’re right and it is a real problem. But consider that the EU is a huge contributor to the stability of Europe, and the world as a whole. War between EU member states is unthinkable, that wasn’t the case 80 years ago.
From the outside (the US in my case) it looks like there’s a lot of hate, but maybe it’s just some well deserved schadenfreude. Everyone loves to laugh at Brexit voters.
I’m not so sure. The UK was a big contributor to the EU, not just monetarily, but it also gave the EU more soft power.
It was only Germany that contributed more, and in fairness, Germany also benefits more from the EU as well, although much of that is purely that Germany already had a healthy industrial sector, a central Europe location, and better transport links to other EU nations.
The UK and EU both lost out due to Brexit. And to think it all happened because of a stupid political gamble by Cameron. Infuriating.
And besides, I think it’d set a good precedent for the EU - look, even a country as wealthy and well-connected as the UK left then decided it was a terrible idea. Clearly it must be good to be in the EU! That’s one hell of a boast.
That said, geopolitics is geopolitics. Various countries would be trying to carve out any little advantage they can get.
Add comment