The European Union has concluded its antitrust investigation into Apple ebooks without reaching any definitive outcome.
The EU announced that the investigation concluded due to the withdrawal of the complaint against Apple, which appears to be because the concerns raised had lost their relevance…
Closure of Apple ebooks Antitrust Investigation
An anonymous party—potentially Amazon—initiated an antitrust complaint against Apple in 2020. The complaint accused Apple of violating EU competition laws by mandating that ebooks be sold exclusively through in-app purchases and prohibiting developers from directing users to alternative purchasing options outside of Apple’s ecosystem.
The EU launched an inquiry but has now announced that the complaint has been retracted and the investigation has been officially closed.
With the withdrawal of the complaint lodged against Apple by an ebook and audiobook distributor, the Commission has decided to terminate its antitrust investigation specifically concerning ebook/audiobook applications.
The Commission clarifies that this does not imply that Apple was compliant with competition laws.
The closure of an investigation does not indicate that the actions in question adhere to EU competition regulations. The Commission will persist in monitoring business practices within the European tech sector, including Apple’s, under both the DMA [Digital Markets Act] and competition laws.
Relevance of the Investigation Diminished
The Digital Markets Act has already mandated that Apple relinquish its monopoly over the distribution of iPhone applications and in-app purchases. This rule applies not only to ebooks but also to all other app categories.
Thus, whether Apple’s handling of ebooks specifically violated competition laws has become a moot point, as the EU has already determined that the broader issue of maintaining a monopoly over iPhone applications and in-app purchases is unlawful. Apple has responded by permitting third-party app stores (though this may not fully comply with legal standards), making further investigation into this particular aspect unnecessary.
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