On Friday 22 December, the European Commission announced that it had closed the antitrust investigation opened in June 2020 (see EUROPE 12507/2) into Apple's allegedly anti-competitive behaviour regarding certain conditions it applies to competing developers of e-book and audiobook applications for the use of its App Store within the European Economic Area (AT.40652).
This decision follows the withdrawal of a complaint lodged by a distributor of e-books and audio books, the company said in a press release. However, it warns that the closure of an investigation does not mean that the behaviour in question complies with European competition rules. The EU institution assures that it will continue to monitor commercial practices in the European technology sector, including those of Apple, both with regard to competition rules and public procurement.
In June, the Commission closed the antitrust investigation into Apple’s in-app payment system and the way it is controlled, following the American firm’s designation as gatekeeper to its App Store online application shop under European legislation on digital markets (DMA) (see EUROPE 13438/24).
In March, the EU institution fined Apple €1.84 billion for abusing its dominant position in the music streaming market (see EUROPE 13363/16). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)