Apple Fined $12 Million in Russia for Violating Anti-Monopoly Rules With App Store

[MacRumors]

Russia's Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) has levied a $12 million fine against Apple for alleged abuse of its dominance in the mobile applications market, reports Reuters.

According to the FAS, Apple's distribution of apps through iOS gives its products a competitive advantage. Apple has been charged 906.3 million roubles, equivalent to $12.1 million.

The fine stems from an August ruling that said Apple abused its dominant App Store position and limited competition in the iOS app market when it began banning parental control apps back in 2019 for using configuration profiles.

Cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab filed an antitrust complaint with the FAS after Apple removed the Kaspersky Safe Kids app from the App Store. At the time, the app had been available for three years before it was pulled.

"Apple occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for mobile apps based on the iOS operating system because it is only legally possible to install such apps from the ‌App Store‌," said the FAS in a ruling that ordered Apple to address the regulatory violations by removing rules that allow it to reject third-party apps.

Apple has said that it "respectfully" disagrees with the FAS's decision and plans to appeal it.

Article Link: Apple Fined $12 Million in Russia for Violating Anti-Monopoly Rules With App Store

 

[mozumder]

Apple should fine Russia for having a monopolistic authoritarian government.

 

[farewelwilliams]

"Apple occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for mobile apps based on the iOS operating system"

Cool, let me try this.

"Sony occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Playstation operating system"

"Nintendo occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Nintendo operating system"

"Microsoft occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Xbox operating system"

"Youtube occupies a dominant position with 100% share of the market for videos based on the Youtube platform"

"Google occupies a dominant position with 100% share of internet search based on the Google platform"

"Alexa occupies a dominant position with 100% share of smart home skills based on the Alexa platform"

"Twitch occupies a dominant position with 100% share of live streams based on the Twitch platform"

 

[rpmurray]

Since when has the Russian government cared what happens to the serfs? Maybe they just want a cut for the oligarchs.

 

[McKodiak]

Are iPhones the only mobile phones allowed in Russia? Do their prisoners (citizens) not have a choice in mobile tech?

 

[1258186]

Does this mean they have to allow alternative app stores in Russia or just stop rejecting Russian apps?

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

Well, Apple must have accomplished something amazing: violating anti-monopoly rules without actually having a monopoly. How do they do that? 🤯

 

[Toratek]

You do realize a 12 million dollar fine to a trillion dollar company is equivalent to a fine of $1.20 to someone making 100K/year? 0.0012%.

”Hey Apple, pay us for a chocolate bar, our Oligarch is hungry”

As of this morning, APPL’s market cap is 2.26 TRILLION. With a T.

 

[mattspace]

Boom! Another domino falls. Yet another international regulator affirms that the ascendent definition of "market" for competition regulation and antitrust purposes is defined by platform, eg iOS, (and Android), and not "Smartphones" as a whole.

iOS is A market, Android is A market, and competition regulation is to operate within each of them in isolation, when considering how platform owners wield power within those markets.

This will continue the trend whose eventuality will potentially render as moot Apple's primary argument - that by selling fewer phones than all Android makers put together, they are by definition incapable of being considered to have monopoly power.

 

[_Spinn_]

This is stupid. It's not like the App Store is a new development. iOS has always been locked down.

 

[Synchromesh]

Since when has the Russian government cared what happens to the serfs? Maybe they just want a cut for the oligarchs.

$12M is pocket change for oligarchs who have billions. Same for the government that continuously robs its people blind. I won't even mention Apple because they probably spend more on toilet paper per month. I think this is more of a symbolic fine than anything else.

 

[robjulo]

Apple should fine Russia for having a monopolistic authoritarian government.

Why? Apple seems to be fine with the Chinese.

 

[topdrawer]

12 million is nothing compared to what they rake in.

 

[alexandr]

Are iPhones the only mobile phones allowed in Russia? Do their prisoners (citizens) not have a choice in mobile tech?

yes, and they are free!!

 

[alexandr]

apple needs to create a "find my fine" app.

 

[lazyrighteye]

"Apple occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for mobile apps based on the iOS operating system"

Cool, let me try this.

"Sony occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Playstation operating system"

"Nintendo occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Nintendo operating system"

"Microsoft occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Xbox operating system"

"Youtube occupies a dominant position with 100% share of the market for videos based on the Youtube platform"

"Google occupies a dominant position with 100% share of internet search based on the Google platform"

"Alexa occupies a dominant position with 100% share of smart home skills based on the Alexa platform"

"Twitch occupies a dominant position with 100% share of live streams based on the Twitch platform"

Dear everyone whining about Apple's dominant position in their own app store,

THIS!

Sincerely,

Reality

 

[rpmurray]

$12M is pocket change for oligarchs who have billions. Same for the government that continuously robs its people blind. I won't even mention Apple because they probably spend more on toilet paper per month. I think this is more of a symbolic fine than anything else.

I was thinking of this as a test run to see if they can get a toehold for a bigger shakedown later. Crime rings usually squeeze the vigorish out slowly at the start but then increase the demands as time passes.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Appealing to a Russian court is usually as effective as talking to a rock.

 

[69Mustang]

Well, Apple must have accomplished something amazing: violating anti-monopoly rules without actually having a monopoly. How do they do that? 🤯

They did because of the specific definition of monopoly used by the Russians. Kinda like the specific definition of monopoly you used to craft your quote. But I'm guessing you already knew that because Russia's reasoning is defined in the article:

Apple occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for mobile apps based on the iOS operating system because it is only legally possible to install such apps from the ‌App Store‌," said the FAS in a ruling that ordered Apple to address the regulatory violations by removing rules that allow it to reject third-party apps.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Dear everyone whining about Apple's dominant position in their own app store,

THIS!

Sincerely,

Reality

And Burger King has a Monopoly, with 100% control over their Whopper.

This is ridiculous…!

 

[Naraxus]

"Apple occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for mobile apps based on the iOS operating system"

Cool, let me try this.

"Sony occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Playstation operating system"

"Nintendo occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Nintendo operating system"

"Microsoft occupies a dominant position with a 100% share of the market for console apps based on the Xbox operating system"

"Youtube occupies a dominant position with 100% share of the market for videos based on the Youtube platform"

"Google occupies a dominant position with 100% share of internet search based on the Google platform"

"Alexa occupies a dominant position with 100% share of smart home skills based on the Alexa platform"

"Twitch occupies a dominant position with 100% share of live streams based on the Twitch platform"

Lol. As usual you completely miss the point. Every one of those systems you can get games/apps for in multiple places

With the iPhone/iPad you have only ONE place to get games & apps.

 

[sirozha]

Apple should fine Russia for having a monopolistic authoritarian government.

This is stupid. It's not like the App Store is a new development. iOS has always been locked down.

The article literally says that the Kasperski app with parental controls was available on the App Store for three years before Apple banned it.

 

[WiseAJ]

Lol. As usual you completely miss the point. Every one of those systems you can get games/apps for in multiple places

With the iPhone/iPad you have only ONE place to get games & apps.

Not true. You can get games/apps from the app store or use safari for web apps.

 

[lazyrighteye]

And Burger King has a Monopoly, with 100% control over their Whopper.

Haha. ExACTly.

 

[MBAir2010]

their flag looks like a airplane seat, coach.