France’s competition watchdog is set to fine Apple next Monday over anti-competitive behavior in its distribution and sales network, Reuters reports, citing “two sources close to the matter.” The two sources disclose the amount of the fine.
From her appointment as the head of the French antitrust watchdog, Isabelle de Silva has set her sights on U.S. tech giants, including Alphabet Inc’s Google, fined 150 million euros ($167 million) for opaque advertising rules.
Apple mentioned in its latest annual report that France’s competition authority was alleging that aspects of the its sales and distribution practices were violating French competition law, which it denies.
MacDailyNews Take: When it rains, it pours.
F***ing Frogs. They think they own Europe. They have a big inferiority complex.
So you don’t think the French should be able to enforce their own laws in their country? Do you think using racist slurs somehow makes your observation more valid?
Apparently Apple, to a lesser extent, and the NBA with their boycott, think THEY are the ones who should be able to approve laws in the state of North Carolina THEY deem appropriate over the elected representation governiing the state who were voted to office by the people of North Carolina.
No NBA for the season. Some say “never let a crisis go to waste” and others say ‘there is a silver lining afterall’!
Remember the Swine Flu? Probably not, the media wasn’t as hyped to attack the current administration in the White House at the time. And forget “Where’s Hunter?”, where was Joe Biden and his grand leadership and expertise on this matter?
When Corona reaches Swine Flu levels in the US, then we can talk.
No they cannot enforce their own laws in their own country. As a Member State of the European Union it is necessary that French national laws comply with EU law. Nation states are subsidiary to the European super state, and as well all know this is controlled by Germany.
I have several French friends. I visit France regularly for business and pleasure. I have never in my life ever heard any Frenchman remotely suggest they think they “own Europe”. They know that they’re no longer a world empire. Frankly, neither is the US now despite several leaders trying to make it so. It would behoove you to be more circumspect in your comments, as the attitude you just aired gives you (and by extension, Americans in general) a bad reputation.
By the way, simply learning “please” and “thank you” in the local language, and using a respectful attitude, will eliminate most any resentment you could feel when you visit Paris. Or New York. Or Tokyo. Or basically anywhere where the locals are proud of their own heritage.
I’m from the UK – which is why I know a lot more about the French than you.
Waiting for Brexit2. That would be you.
Pols slavering at the lips in anticipation of Mula $$$ Money grubbers.
Just don’t sell anything to them
What you suggest is akin to Mercedes boycotting the state of Texas. They could, but they won’t. Timmy doesn’t have the spine to fight even if the law was unfair (which it isn’t). The US government would have a few things to say about Mercedes screwing the people in Texas who own them now. Funny how MAGA views go all wonky when you are on the receiving end of isolationist policies.
Trade deals for all EU member nations are done at the EU level, each individual nation is free to set taxation within its borders. Just like in the USA. The EU is the biggest single market in the world, for now. Deal with it.
Would it bother you if the French help achieve what you just said?
If Cookie is willing to bow to whatever Xi demands and no AAPL shareholders care enough to put an end to that, then what realistic expectation does anyone have that Timmy would do anything different for a democratic nation? The only difference is Xi passes laws to empower the Party, whereas in France, representatives have strong traditions of passing laws to empower Liberte, Egalite, et Fraternite. It’s much more responsive to the people, and always has been since the people showed they have no qualms about beheading authoritarians who don’t listen.
Moreover, France has earned the right to pass laws and enforce them within their own borders. Don’t take for granted your true friends and all the favors they did for you over the years.
The US wouldn’t exist as a democratic nation without the French. Merci, Lafayette. Americans should acknowledge the massive debt of gratitude there. Canadians too, for that matter, otherwise the British could have gifted Quebec to their Hessian mercenaries or worse.
Western Europe as we know it today would have been rolled up by the Nazis were it not for, yes, the French as part of the Allied forces. Of course we can play what if games about how the Nazi regime may have failed under its own errors, but it is very well documented how the French Resistance aided the allies at every step on French soil, while dogging the Nazi occupational forces continually. Eisenhower trusted and relied on intelligence coming from the French in order to successfully control the western front.
The European Union, which up until 2016 had a deserved reputation as a staunch ally of the US, would not be the successful trade market it is today (with some problems, admittedly) without the leadership of former sworn enemies France and Germany. That impressive display of diplomacy created perhaps the longest stretch of continuous peace ever seen in western Europe, allowed a continent literally flattened by 2 Great Wars to experience a renaissance, and ushered in economic opportunities for all member nations. Having open borders and open markets and consistent laws like the US has paid off dramatically for every member state. You could say the EU is very much like the US in goals and outcomes, except of course in the US, lots of folks are happy to leave certain states behind economically while they toss scorn on the most economically vibrant states. In the EU, they merely have silly national stereotypes that they hurl at each other at in pubs and football stadiums. Well they used to anyway until this virus came around. Now Europeans go get tested and treated, while Americans stew in their uncertainty, fears, and doubts.
Well said!
“Canadians too, for that matter, otherwise the British could have gifted Quebec to their Hessian mercenaries or worse.” Very funny. Many would argue they should have.
Few people actually wanted to move the to great white north. It’s a testament to the toughness of the Quebecois that they stuck it out through the harsh winters. The Brits won the territory in battle, the French crown pulled out (1763 Treaty of Paris), but the French settlers retained possession and play a dominant role in the culture of the province to this day.
Many who couldn’t take the winters moved to points south, notably to what is now Louisiana. They helped future president Jackson rout the Brits in New Orleans. Notable characters of that brief exciting time in history include entertaining characters like Bernard de Marigny. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_de_Marigny
It is understandable that some sourpuss Brits have contempt for their neighbors, but it is totally bizarre that Americans would have any bad will toward the French given the long history of coordination and mutual assistance between the nations.
“de Silva has set her sights on U.S. tech giants”
Since we don’t know the merits of the case, it still seems bothersome if this characterization is accurate. If she was focussed upon illegality, fine. If she was focussed upon the tech industry, fine, but specifically setting one’s “sights” upon a tiny segment seems like pre-judging.
Did the Apple faithful say the same when de Silva fined Google for deceptive anti-competitive ad rigging on its search page?
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-google/google-fined-150-million-euros-by-france-idUSKBN1YO102
Also, the French regulators don’t originate the anti-competitive lawsuits. They are acted on following the claim of a French company and years of investigation. If like Microsoft, Apple is now acting like the gorilla, then it deserves to be put in its place.
I do wish there were more details available on the specifics. Sounds like Apple may have screwed over some resellers, intentionally or unintentionally creating an unfair distribution situation. Apple should correct the situation and move on. French fines are pocket change.
Apple has no peer.
So how can France say Apple is being anti-competitive when there is no competition?
Now if only EU legislators watched for and reacted to looming pandemics as closely as they do for business behaviors…