In light of its preliminary antitrust investigation into Apple’s iPhone policies, European Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia welcomes Apple’s announcement that it has relaxed restrictions on the development tools for iPhone applications (apps) and introduced cross-border iPhone warranty repair services within the EU/EEA. The latter in particular puts an end to the difficulties experienced by European consumers who need repair services for an iPhone purchased in a Member State other than their country of residence. In light of these policy changes, the Commission intends to close the investigations into these matters.
Commission Vice President in charge of Competition Policy, Joaquín Almunia, commented in the press release, “Apple’s response to our preliminary investigations shows that the Commission can use the competition rules to achieve swift results on the market with clear benefits for consumers, without the need to open formal proceedings.”
In Spring 2010, the Commission launched two parallel preliminary investigations into Apple’s business practices relating to the iPhone.
One focused on the “country of purchase” rule, whereby repairs service is only available in the country where the iPhone was bought, which made the exercise of warranty rights difficult for consumers who had purchased an iPhone in another EU/EEA country than their home country. The Commission had concerns that this rule could amount to territorial restrictions aimed at dissuading European consumers from buying iPhones outside their country of residence and so leading to a partitioning of the market.
The other investigation concerned Apple’s decision of April 2010 to restrict the terms and conditions of its licence agreement with independent developers of applications or ‘apps’ for its iPhone operating system. It focussed on the rationale underlying Apple’s requirement to use only Apple’s native programming tools and approved languages when writing iPhone apps, to the detriment of third-party layers, which could have ultimately resulted in shutting out competition from devices running platforms other than Apple’s.
Following today’s announcement, Apple is no longer enforcing the “country of purchase” rule within the EU/EEA and has appointed independent Authorised Service Providers to offer cross-border iPhone warranty services in those Member States where Apple does not directly take charge of repairs. Earlier on this month, Apple also announced having removed restrictions previously introduced on the development tools used to create iPhone apps, restoring the use of third-party layers and so giving developers more flexibility.
Source: European Union
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jay in DC” for the heads up.]
Burned up some tax dollars and concluded that what was good is still good. Efficiency.
Burned up some tax dollars and concluded that what was good is still good. Efficiency.
“Burned up thousands of tax dollars and concluded that what was good is still good. Total Barbra Streisand.”
“Burned up thousands of tax dollars and concluded that what was good is still good. Total Barbra Streisand.”
Tax dollars spent ensuring fair business practices are not wasted, anymore than money budgeted for policemen on patrol.
Tax dollars spent ensuring fair business practices are not wasted, anymore than money budgeted for policemen on patrol.
Maybe one of our EU residents can answer this: Aren’t there still various regulations and laws on the books in the many EU countries that conflict with one another? Is there a commission in place resolving these conflicts and establishing standardization? I came away from this episode with the impression that Apple was unfairly attacked and threatened by this commission for merely attempting to comply with differing regs in the many EU countries. From a legal and logistics viewpoint, it would have been far simpler for Apple to have treated the EU as one entity rather than many separate countries. Bottom line question: Without 20/20 hindsight, could Apple have done something different that would have avoided this brush up with a Consumer Commission?
Maybe one of our EU residents can answer this: Aren’t there still various regulations and laws on the books in the many EU countries that conflict with one another? Is there a commission in place resolving these conflicts and establishing standardization? I came away from this episode with the impression that Apple was unfairly attacked and threatened by this commission for merely attempting to comply with differing regs in the many EU countries. From a legal and logistics viewpoint, it would have been far simpler for Apple to have treated the EU as one entity rather than many separate countries. Bottom line question: Without 20/20 hindsight, could Apple have done something different that would have avoided this brush up with a Consumer Commission?
This news should provide an impetus for even greater Apple stock gains.
Buy and hold, people. Buy and hold.
This news should provide an impetus for even greater Apple stock gains.
Buy and hold, people. Buy and hold.
Many local representatives refuse to service equipment, if purchased from a different EU country and there is legal precedence against such practices. Apple of course was guilty as hell, together with many other companies, that is why the case was so easily resolved. Within the EU, there are no grey imports. I have faced such problems myself with a digital camera I bought in the UK that would not be serviced here in Greece…
Many local representatives refuse to service equipment, if purchased from a different EU country and there is legal precedence against such practices. Apple of course was guilty as hell, together with many other companies, that is why the case was so easily resolved. Within the EU, there are no grey imports. I have faced such problems myself with a digital camera I bought in the UK that would not be serviced here in Greece…
Dumb shit EU slugs. Wasting tax money all the time.
Dumb shit EU slugs. Wasting tax money all the time.
x, please explain yourself. Nobody is above the law.
x, please explain yourself. Nobody is above the law.
The EU socialist dictatorship flexing it’s muscle, while there still are a few crumbs of spaces not yet regulated.
Goodby freedom, hello socialist paradise!
Yuk
The EU socialist dictatorship flexing it’s muscle, while there still are a few crumbs of spaces not yet regulated.
Goodby freedom, hello socialist paradise!
Yuk
@Spark
There does appear to be a bit of hypocrisy in the EU stance. For instance, why did Apple have to struggle to roll out the iTunes [formerly Music] Store across the EU member countries one by one. If the EU had standardized the rules and regulations then it would have been easier.
Still, I have no problem with the results. It makes sense to me that people in the EU should not be tied to a particular country for warranty work. People in the U.S. are not restricted by state. And Apple’s attempt to restrict 3rd party development environments and code conversion, while perhaps well intentioned, was doomed from the start.
@Spark
There does appear to be a bit of hypocrisy in the EU stance. For instance, why did Apple have to struggle to roll out the iTunes [formerly Music] Store across the EU member countries one by one. If the EU had standardized the rules and regulations then it would have been easier.
Still, I have no problem with the results. It makes sense to me that people in the EU should not be tied to a particular country for warranty work. People in the U.S. are not restricted by state. And Apple’s attempt to restrict 3rd party development environments and code conversion, while perhaps well intentioned, was doomed from the start.
KingMel: Absolutely correct, hypocrisy is the number one EU rule. However, if there were no rules, then if you bought in Texas you could have no service in Alabama.
Ubermac et al: You mix-up apples and oranges. Free trade has nothing to do with artificial restrictions imposed by corporations. Grow up, Apple is not infallible.
KingMel: Absolutely correct, hypocrisy is the number one EU rule. However, if there were no rules, then if you bought in Texas you could have no service in Alabama.
Ubermac et al: You mix-up apples and oranges. Free trade has nothing to do with artificial restrictions imposed by corporations. Grow up, Apple is not infallible.
It’s good that the EU investigates things inlike the US that let’s everything pass. But this investigation should never have been opened to be honest.
It’s good that the EU investigates things inlike the US that let’s everything pass. But this investigation should never have been opened to be honest.