“Apple has credible justifications, they write, for both complaints that have been lodged against it: its decision to exclude Adobe Flash from its mobile devices and, just this week, the change in its developers agreement that effectively restricts Google’s AdMob from advertising on Apple’s new ad platform,” P.E.D. reports.
But Arbogast and Askew argue that even if they go nowhere, government inquiries like these are a “negative” for Apple for three reasons:
1. Every time a company comes before DOJ or the FTC, staff get to ‘peek under the hood’ and acquire information that they can later connect with additional information to develop a theory of harm.
2. Apple will likely engage in additional [merger and acquisition] activity, which will require DOJ or FTC approval. This provides an opportunity for the government to shape conditions to address behavior that they might find problematic but that falls short of the basis for an antitrust suit.
3. The existence of an inquiry or investigation can lead to a company modifying (or “clarifying”) their practices to deflect the government (and any negative press).”
Read more in the full article here.
Wow, some no-name analyst thinks Apple is in the clear regarding their antitrust woes. Guess I should rethink my position!
Yes MadMac you should. Your continuos posting about these suits seem to me to be without merit. It does not seem that Apple is worried in the least, as they continue to try to make the users experience better.
The two actions by Apple that are in question seem very justified, given Apple’s well described explanations.
As opposed to a made-up name analyst who thinks that the Sherman Antitrust Act is an absolute bar to any business arrangement that might restrain trade!
Apple can play that game also…
Call the FTC and DOJ so they can look under Googles pants too.
@MadMac
You may have been correct in predicting that a probe would occur, but that means nothing. The allegations have no merit and the investigations will find no wrong doing. There is simply a group in Washington DC right now that has the initial belief that Success is something that is “gamed”, and that if you achieve it, you must be cheating or breaking some law. Apple’s meteoric rise in prominence and success has some people suspicious, but tough shit. Apple is breaking no laws. They are simply out maneuvering their competition, and those whiners are bitching to any politician to whose campaign they’ve ever made a donation. Mark my words: nothing is going to happen to Apple over anything done to date.
I trust Apple is being responsible to us as customers/users with good reasons which all seem justifiable.
Let Google screw up.
To my knowledge, the government hasn’t yet confirmed that it’s looking at Apple. All we have is FUD in the press.
Guess your position MadMac is Apple is in the wrong?
It is not illegal to possess a monopoly. What is illegal is using monopoly power as a weapon for unfair or predatory behavior against competition.
Of course microsoft’s history is full of such behavior, most of which has gone unpunished. So far Apple has not behaved criminally. Google says do no evil, but their intent is as obvious as the Iranian nuclear program.
@ m159,
Apple is not being accused of monopolistic actions here, they don’t have such a market position. What they are being investigated for (exclude the silly Adobe thing) and, in my opinion lose, is their practice of exclusion in a market that results in RESTRAINT OF TRADE.
@ Spark and others,
I hope like hell I’m wrong. As an Apple devotee and a significant shareholder, I want them to succeed in what they are trying to do. I am, however, just speaking my mind that I don’t think they can get away with what they are doing in the mobile ad space.
Just trying to walk the walk and not be a blind follower who thinks that everything Apple does is pure. I’m willing to be wrong, but never willing to be intellectually dishonest.
Utter rubbish. There’s no ratcheting up based upon number of inquiries. It’s either an antitrust problem or it isn’t.
<I>“I hope like hell I’m wrong.”<i>
You don’t have to hope, MacMac. You’re dead wrong.
The complacent Old Guard believe that Apple was never going to surpass Microsoft in Market Cap.
But it happened.
Then, Apple’s value was supposed to yo-yo 1-2, 1-2, with Microsoft for a while, so Microsoft could claim “rounding errors”, or hope that it’s early (if temporary) resumption of the #1 position, with accompanying sycophantic fanfare, would result as the lasting meme.
But that didn’t happen.
Apple’s market cap appears that it will continue to climb past Microsoft’s, at a healthy pace.
The Old Guards’ tactic now, is to try to drive Apple’s stock value down with rumours, lies, and innuendo.
Arbogast and Askew, and others such as Mad(at)Mac here, will continuously post “theories” (fiction), alluding to imaginary investigations and fictional, potential charges against Apple.
They will also continuously cite “unnamed sources”.
These whisper campaigns are in response to nothing more than Apple’s success, based on Apple selling quality products.
Consumer awareness of Apple quality is threatening to bring down the Microsoft-built house of cards that was founded on selling absolute crap to the naive consumer.
The Old Guard will stop at nothing to try to halt Apple’s success.
Expect the FUD to continue to flow, and to pile very, very high.
You can bet Apple’s lawyers are better than any government lawyers, so they know what they are doing.
Nice try Adope and Googol
Next…..
@ NHL,
Sorry, I forgot. No opinions/thoughts are allowed around here unless the praise Holy Apple.
People like you are the definition of intellecual dishonesty. You are truely deluded my friend.
@ m159,
Speaking of the Iranian nuclear program, how in the hell are the Iranians getting by with a better nuclear safety record than both the Americans and the Russians?
No Three Mile Island or Chernobyl in Iran. You would think their Russian and North Korean nuclear engineers would screw up every now and again.
As a lawyer, I am curious MadMac–and I genuinely hope I don’t regret this–what is your theory on the restraint of trade claim? What restraint of trade is there in the change of developer terms that purportedly cripples AdMob’s ability to use Apple’s data from inside Apple’s ecosystem to compete against Apple?
MadMac Says to NHL “Sorry, I forgot. No opinions/thoughts are allowed around here unless the praise Holy Apple.
People like you are the definition of intellecual dishonesty. You are truely deluded my friend.”
@MadMac “and You Are just Full Of Yourself Sunshine”
Really to be so disingenuous and outright patronizing wrapping it in your so called logic and view, All you are is a “HATER” but try real hard to wrap it in a “Truth Package with smiles”.
I have dealt with your type for years, as such you will always twist the knife trying to make people believe your view is correct while all along twisting the knife more.
No; you are the Delusional one, no one else, I will not be so bold and mean to add the “my friend” to the closing of this post, You are for certain not my friend.
Good Day.
Just so you understand “Knife” is a metaphor for “FUD” & however you may call your twisted sense of reality.
And I am still waiting for someone, anyone to point me to a credible source that informs that the government is indeed investigating Apple. I have read blogs, this one included, that quote “unnamed sources” or “someone in the know” who say that the investigation is ongoing or about to start, but I have yet to hear one word from the government.
Have we all lost our ability to reason? Do we just blindly believe what we read on blogs? Well I for one call bullshit on this whole subject!
CRAPPLE is a prime example of a megacorporate predatory capitalism at its ugliest. Their constant anti-competitive behavior is fascist in nature, crushing or cutting off anyone and anything in their way, with no regard to intent of law whatsoever. It’s long overdue that they got slapped down, and slapped down HARD.
From now on bing and decide. http://www.bing.com
Lol!
Microsoft Mediocrity Cult officially around the bend. Frustration tends to do that to the reality challenged.
And it’s only the beginning.
I’m buying tickets.
@ MadMac–
I’m willing to guess that the “no name analyst” is better known than you. :/
Big Al,
Didn’t mean to inspire an off-topic thread, but there are two simple answers to your question. First, if the Iranians have any accidents that we can’t otherwise detect, you can be sure they aren’t talking about them. Secondly, this is a very young and relatively monolithic program. Given some time, you can expect trouble.
Apple > Teflon