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EU Closes Antitrust Probe Into Apple's Ebook App Store Rules

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The European Commission has ended its antitrust investigation into Apple's App Store rules for ebook and audiobook apps, following the withdrawal of a complaint by an ebook distributor.

App Store vs EU Feature 2
Originally launched in June 2020, the investigation was sparked by a complaint from Rakuten's Kobo subsidiary. Kobo had argued that Apple's mandatory 30% commission on App Store purchases made it virtually impossible to operate profitably while competing with Apple Books, which isn't subject to the same fee structure.

The probe examined Apple's requirement that developers use its in-app purchase system, and restrictions preventing developers from informing iPhone and iPad users about cheaper purchasing options outside the App Store.

Although this particular investigation has concluded, the Commission said that the closure does not indicate Apple's conduct complies with EU competition rules. Apple still faces scrutiny under both EU competition laws and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which designates Apple as a "gatekeeper" and requires changes to its App Store practices.

The ebook investigation was one of three parallel probes launched by the Commission in 2020. In March 2024, the Commission fined Apple over its music streaming app practices.

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Tags: Apple Antitrust, European Commission, European Union

Top Rated Comments

chrono1081 Avatar
chrono1081
18 months ago
Pretty soon no one is going to have app stores to sell in. If you don't like to use a digital storefront that charges a fee, don't sell in a digital storefront. Create your own site at your own expense and sell that way, see how quickly it costs vastly more than that 30% fee.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wanha Avatar
wanha
18 months ago
It's true that Apple charges a commission to sell stuff through their app and book stores.

It's also true that they have spent billions of dollars creating, developing, maintaining, and marketing the platform.

How is this any different than how any other regular business operates?

Want to sell your candy bars at a supermarket or gas station that someone else built, maintains, and markets? Guess what, you have to pay them for it, and it is usually well above 30% and no one seems to think that's unfair.

Disclaimer: I understand that there are only two mobile operating systems and there needs to be scrutiny around them, as having such a structure lends itself to misuse of power. However, let's not forget that this is how literally every other company in all markets operate, too.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
WarmWinterHat
18 months ago
The three people that use the Apple eBook store are breathing a sigh of relief.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
NMBob
18 months ago

Apple should just buy the EU
Buy it, shut it down, and give the money back to the shareholders.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dr McKay Avatar
Dr McKay
18 months ago
Apple should just buy the EU
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
nostradumbass
18 months ago

Apple should just buy the EU
Not worth it. The EU parliament is being taken over by nazis funded by Russia, the US, China and middle east oil money. It's a den of thieves. They do a hundred distractions and fake regulations so the population doesn't realise they are being robbed daily by landlords and price gouging.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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