Apple Under Pressure to Remove Geo-Blocking Restrictions in the EU

[Earendil]

Which sounds to me like I should be able to download a German app if I'm in the neighborhood, even though I and my Account are French.

You wouldn't discriminate against a paying customer just cause they're not a local would you?

That does seem more reasonable. So there is no world in which the app maker or the software distributor (Apple) can be held liable for an App being transported across a border into an area where it’s illegal, just like most physical goods?

Apps are not legal or illegal - if the good or service behind it is illegal in one or more states, then it can’t be sold to a person IN the State where it is illegal. What Apple seems to be doing is say “You’re FROM X State where A Service is illegal. Even though you LIVE in Y State where it’s totally legal, we won’t let you access it.”

Isn’t that geofencing though? To allow you to download it where it’s legal and not allow where it’s illegal requires location based selling?
I’m just tying to understand.

 

[hans1972]

Hope the EU keeps this up and Apple doesn’t manage to find an official to “lobby”. It will set a good precedent for other countries which put consumer interest/protection much much lower than shareholder value.

This also applies to app developers. App developers can't release their software in just a few EU countries. Either all or nothing, unless they have a very valid reason for not to.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

That does seem more reasonable. So there is no world in which the app maker or the software distributor (Apple) can be held liable for an App being transported across a border into an area where it’s illegal, just like most physical goods?

One must consider what it means for a software to be illegal. How does one ban math?

Aside from philosophy though, one would assume a responsible app maker would add a location check and have a splash screen that apologizes for not being usable in X country.

 

[hans1972]

Not defending Apple but doesn’t this depend on local laws too? So if it’s more trouble than it’s worth to make something available then they’re not going to.

Does this cover third party apps too? Isn’t that up to the individual developers to make their app available or not?

Developers too has to abide by this. App developers are criminals if they geo block in the EU without a valid reason.

 

[artifex]

Yeah and make all my DVD’s region free while you’re at it 😂

Taking a break from all this circular political talk to pay tribute to the original MtR, perhaps the best free ripper of its era, which I first heard about in here or TUAW (RIP) 17 or 18 years ago but probably shouldn't name fully now.

 

[hans1972]

Apple is notorious for finding loopholes in those rules. For example… it is using Ireland as a tax heaven to not pay taxes by doing business in the EU.

That's the point of the single market. Any EU company can sell to other EU countries without necessarily being taxed in every country.

Let's say you operate a company in Sweden which makes knifes. That company can sell a knife to someone in the Netherlands without the company being taxed there also.

That's the beauty of the single market.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Apple It's tome to abandon the EU.The EU will demand a backdoor next.

 

[jakey rolling]

One must consider what it means for a software to be illegal. How does one ban math?

Pretty easily, actually. For example, when that "math" is used to scramble a bunch of binary values which themselves represent a mapping of bits that, when decoded, can then instruct your computer to display an image or video that is illegal, such as a child being sexually abused.

Or, when that "math" is used to create a series of values that, when loaded in the correct sequence, can intentionally cause a computer to grant access to a malicious actor who can then use that access to steal someone's identity.

It is so.. interesting.. when people try to manufacture a "gotcha" moment by completely ignoring context and even basic reality. ("child porn illegal? but who can ban light? who can ban photoreceptive chemicals?")

 

[t0rqx]

Cant change countries in App Store if you have Apple Music. Good job EU.

 

[AppliedMicro]

The EU will demand a backdoor next

No relevance whatsoever to geo-blocking restrictions.

 

[AppliedMicro]

App developers should have the option to decide where they want to sell their app

They have.
They can choose to sell their apps in the EU or not.
But the EU is a common market - most geo-blocking has been outlawed in the EU.

Why are apps that different?

They aren't different from almost all other products or services.

The question rather should: Why are videos/movies/streaming services different and an exception from the rule (that geo-blocking is prohibited)?

 

[j26]

That does seem more reasonable. So there is no world in which the app maker or the software distributor (Apple) can be held liable for an App being transported across a border into an area where it’s illegal, just like most physical goods?



Isn’t that geofencing though? To allow you to download it where it’s legal and not allow where it’s illegal requires location based selling?
I’m just tying to understand.

To me the main thing that should come from this is that if you open Apple Books, for example, you are brought to a European site not a different site with different items, depending on which country you are in.

Amazon may have some issues with this too - they have different websites for different countries.

 

[CEmajr]

EU just need to get it over with and add an additional flat tax of 10% of revenue so that Apple can help keep their economies afloat.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Shows how weak and pathetic they are. They need 27 countries together to have any power.

Ohio ain't no mighty California either, mate.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

It is so.. interesting.. when people try to manufacture a "gotcha" moment by completely ignoring context and even basic reality. ("child porn illegal? but who can ban light? who can ban photoreceptive chemicals?")

Admittedly I've been living in Excel today and made a dumb remark while on a break from it. You got me there!

 

[TechnoMonk]

Why should the EU try to force their regulations into other non EU countries...

What if the EU made a regulation that was illegal in America...
Then Apple would be in trouble in the US...

Something needs to be done regarding the EU's practices and "forcing" third party app stores...

Wait till end of Jan, US will start retaliating against EU companies. EU will fold like a cheap tent.

 

[Kottu]

EU should require the same from streaming services as well. When I travel to other countries, I can see programs that are not available in Sweden.

 

[bn-7bc]

In UK we don't have Apple Cash, should Apple be forced to release it here? No, because they don't want to and thats it.

This seems like the EU are just pissed that they don't have Apple Intelligence. I get it, its a cool feature they naturally want but if they keep imposing rules on digital stuff, then releases will naturally be slower while they are made compliant, or withheld entirely because Apple don't want the hassle.

Either way, Apple shouldn't be forced to make something available in a country they don't want to.

I suspect we might be daaling with one set uf rules possibly killing another here, could apple cash maybr fall under the heading of financial services, doeasn't thst ( in the uk) requere some kinde of license from the FCA

Once again the EU is engaging in targeted harassment.

This applies to HBO, Netflix, Hulu and EVERY SINGLE content consumption media which all require users to use a VPN to access in countries where

A. not available
B. specific Movie/TV is region locked

Why can't US users watch BBC TV shows. [Same thing]

Because the BBC is financed via a tv lisence, which Americans for obvious treasons do not pay

 

[MNGR]

I normally don't agree with the EU's constant attacks on Apple, but this one seems to make sense. Why not just have an EU App Store with choice of language and geo-blocking based on the EU's boundaries?

So you would force the developers to have all the languages?

 

[d686546s]

Amazon may have some issues with this too - they have different websites for different countries.

They do, but I think in principle nothing is preventing you from ordering from Amazon.fr from Germany. I'm not even sure Amazon has fulfilment centres in every country for which they have a website and they definitely do cross-deliver, as in I've definitely received products from the Netherlands and elsewhere here in the UK unexpectedly before Brexit. Now they make that clear before you order.

 

[bn-7bc]

The EU is a banner example of why centralized bureaucratic command structures should not exist.

I'll present a counter example then, roaming within the EU and EEA is in most cases free (excluding certain unlimited data bundles), since 2017 all cell users with subs in any EEA country can travel to any other member stat and not vory about roaming charges (allto on rhe porders with non EEA members you need to make shore your device don't pick a strongervsignal from a mast in a non member country which for obvious reasons are not covered by said regs) Now I would call this a win for consumers thst travle between EEA countries, which is a rather regular thing here. The GPDR is allso generally thought of as a goid thing, the Euro and common costums regs make crodd border trade easier and less risky ( no currency risks). but this is starting to mve into rant territory so I'll stop now. Have a mice day

 

[Oz.]

great news

 

[Janschi]

You wouldn't discriminate against a paying customer just cause they're not a local would you?

Of course you're French. Apple has nothing to do with you being unable to download German apps. The app publishers/developers CHOSE not to make them available in your country. Please inform yourself.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Of course you're French. Apple has nothing to do with you being unable to download German apps. The app publishers/developers CHOSE not to make them available in your country. Please inform yourself.

Oh I'm the furthest thing from French. Please, do as you say and inform yourself. Little arrow icon under my name tells you where I'm from if you're ever curious.

 

[Naraxus]

The EU is nothing more than a legalized mafia at this point. Once again they miraculously find new things Apple and other (American compnies) may be guilty of and decide to apply retroactive fines.

Once again I'm left wishing Apple had a CEO who would tell the EU to **** off. This is just asinine.