Tim Cook Says Apple 'Should be Scrutinized' But Disputes Claims Company is a Monopoly

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook believes that when it comes to big business, scrutiny is a good thing, but he has denied claims that Apple is a monopoly.

In an extended interview with CBS News, Cook said that because of Apple's size he thought it was "fair" to scrutinize its business practices, but the CEO pushed back hard against claims that the company had a dominant position in any market.

Apple has recently become the target of regulator inquiries and class action lawsuits that have variously questioned its business practices. In the United States, for example, the Supreme Court recently ruled that a class action accusing Apple of operating an App Store monopoly can proceed to trial in a lower court.

Asked about Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign and her position that Apple should break up its App Store and other parts of its business, Cook said:

I strongly disagree with that. I think some people would argue, if you are selling a good, then you can't have a product that competes with that good. And I-- I think that's part of what is being argued there. But that-- that's an argument that takes you down the path that, Walmart shouldn't be stocking alternative or house brand. And so this is decades of-- of-- U.S. law here. But I think scrutiny is good, and we'll tell our story to anybody that we need to or that-- that wants to hear it. I-- I feel very confident in-- in our position.

Cook went on to underline the company's user-centric position and claimed that when it comes to privacy and fake news, "we're on the user's side," which is why it curates content on its stores and services.

Asked whether he thought Facebook is an amplifier for fake news, Cook said that he worried about any platform that delivered news in a feed and relied on algorithms to differentiate genuine journalism from fake news.

I don't really believe personally that A.I. has the power today to differentiate between what is fake and what is not. And so I worry about any property that today pushes news in a feed. What we do with Apple News product is we pick top stories, we have people doing it. And so I do worry about people thinking like machines. Not machines thinking like people.

Cook's extended interview covered several other topics, including the potential impact of Chinese tariffs on Apple, his relationship with President Trump, and current U.S. administration polices. You can watch the full interview above and read the full transcript here.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Tim Cook Says Apple 'Should be Scrutinized' But Disputes Claims Company is a Monopoly

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Tim for president.

 

[netdoc66]

Tim Cook was the worst choice ever. Apple has failed to innovate since the passing of Steve Jobs.

 

[coolbreeze2]

Apple is far from being a monopoly.

 

[Hieveryone]

That's fine and all but what about these really expensive products?

I hope Apple can make products and lower price points for regular consumers.

Like a display that doesn't cost $6,000

A display that is 27" for $1,299 retina quality would be great.

 

[BootsWalking]

To help the debate on whether or not Apple has a monopoly or acts in a monopolistic fashion, here's the definition from the FTC:

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/com...ws/single-firm-conduct/monopolization-defined

Btw, I believe currently has 39% market share in the USA.

 

[rp2011]

Good response from Tim. I have mixed feelings as time has shown us, especially when it comes to technology vs natural resources or other commodities is that it moves very quickly. And monopolistic tendencies always raise their heads and certainly make competition incredibly difficult. But companies via Wall St always succumb to the same pratfall of milking profitable products and lingering on them beyond their expiration date and dooming themselves without any help or legislation.

 

[macfacts]

So Cook said he is passing on the costs if Trump adds a tariff that affects iPhones. Interesting. I guess it is similar how iOS devs pass on the apple tax to their customers.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I am so ready for the post Tim Cook era

 

[macfacts]

To help the debate on whether or not Apple has a monopoly or acts in a monopolistic fashion, here's the definition from the FTC:

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/com...ws/single-firm-conduct/monopolization-defined

Btw, I believe currently has 39% market share in the USA.

And apple has 100% of the current iOS app stores market. No other company runs an iOS app store.

 

[Breaking Good]

To help the debate on whether or not Apple has a monopoly or acts in a monopolistic fashion, here's the definition from the FTC:

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/com...ws/single-firm-conduct/monopolization-defined

Btw, I believe currently has 39% market share in the USA.

I supose you also feel that third party manufacturers should not be able to make aftermarket parts for automobiles.

 

[mariusignorello]

And apple has 100% of the current iOS app stores market. No other company runs an iOS app store.

It’s not like someone can set up shop and sell iOS apps out of thin air. All App Store certs are signed by Apple.

 

[Breaking Good]

But companies via Wall St always succumb to the same pratfall of milking profitable products and lingering on them beyond their expiration date and dooming themselves without any help or legislation.

This is usually true. But the question is how much pain will consumers feel in the process.

You see, something that free marketeers overlook when extolling the virtues of the free market is that it is often painful when the free market is working. If you are the one that has to make the decision of either feeding your family or heating your house while prices adjust that is painful.

 

[Naraxus]

"What we do with Apple News product is we pick top stories, we have people doing it. And so I do worry about people thinking like machines. Not machines thinking like people."

And this is one reason I will never use/watch/consume anything from Apple News. Apple's political leanings aside, I prefer to pick my top news and not have some other entity do it for me.

 

[rjp1]

Saying Walmart shouldn't sell goods is just avoiding the question.

There is nothing stopping people from shopping at Target or any other store. Walmart doesn't take a 30% cut either.

You know there is a problem when Walmart treats their suppliers better than you.

 

[iReality85]

Scrutiny by the DOJ and FCC is long overdue.

I’m not so sure about Apple being a monopoly, but FB, Google, YouTube, and Amazon all need to be regulated and/or broken up into smaller entities.

 

[mrtune]

Saying Walmart shouldn't sell goods is just avoiding the question.

There is nothing stopping people from shopping at Target or any other store. Walmart doesn't take a 30% cut either.

You know there is a problem when Walmart treats their suppliers better than you.

There's also nothing stopping people from buying an android device and using the google play store to download apps.

 

[WhoDaKat]

Tim Cook was the worst choice ever. Apple has failed to innovate since the passing of Steve Jobs.

There are not going to be any more Steve Jobs in your lifetime. Steve himself said don't run it like Steve. He wanted a GE... Cook delivered.

 

[code-m]

And apple has 100% of the current iOS app stores market. No other company runs an iOS app store.

Not taking sides, just my observation however the same can be said about Google’s AppStore, Amazon, Samsung, Microsoft, etc. I cannot run android apps on iOS or vice versa. You can side load apps onto Android OS or side load apps on iOS without the official AppsStores. The cost to charge developers depends between Apple, Google, Amazon, etc.

A little more flexibility and transparency for all AppStores is welcomed.

 

[AgentAnonymous]

Tim Cook: *cures cancer*

Conservatives at Mac Rumors: Waaaaaaaaaaah!!!

 

[code-m]

Scrutiny by the DOJ and FCC is long overdue.

I’m not so sure about Apple being a monopoly, but FB, Google, YouTube, and Amazon all need to be regulated and/or broken up into smaller entities.

Broken up into smaller entities that still reports to the same head with similar practices does nothing.

Kinda reminds me of the gremlins where you have one, there they multiply and yet still causing chaos while there is a leader they all answer to. It will change nothing, may make the problem worse.

I am not even going to bring up the contradiction of a government body that surveillance’s it citizens.

Dunno what the solution is, just my observation.

 

[wbeasley]

Is it necessary to write Tim’s text with every pause and stutter? Reads poorly. Was that the intent?

 

[now i see it]

Apple is no more of a monopoly in the smartphone world than Ford (or any other car manufacturer) is a monopoly in the automotive world.

 

[Cosmosent]

It is a Monopoly & his Argument is Extremely Weak !

I personally do NOT believe Cook will still be CEO at the end of the year.

Cook makes a good #2 OR #3 man in a company like AAPL, but a Horrible #1 !

Jobs made one BIG mistake before passing, NOT updating the "Hands Off" Board (that he personally put in place for his own benefit).

Cook took advantage of that, & has remained CEO because of it !

Cook is an Efficiency Expert, mostly in "Hardware Manufacturing Operations".

Jobs knew that, & picked him anyway to take over ... know why ???

NO ONE knows for sure, but I believe it's because he feared the Egos of the other top candidates ... that they would RE-make AAPL to their own liking ... kind of what Cook is now doing.

Moving the iPhone product line so Upscale, was, IMO, a HUGE blunder !

NOT offering a competitive new $650 iPhone every year the past few years was, IMO, a HUGE blunder !

To me, it now sounds like Cook is going to try to Hide Behind the Trump Tariffs (i.e., that will be his excuse for even poorer iPhone Unit Sales).

 

[az431]

To help the debate on whether or not Apple has a monopoly or acts in a monopolistic fashion, here's the definition from the FTC:

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/com...ws/single-firm-conduct/monopolization-defined

Btw, I believe currently has 39% market share in the USA.

Given your focus on the percentage, it doesn’t sound like you really read much of that.
[doublepost=1559699514][/doublepost]

And apple has 100% of the current iOS app stores market. No other company runs an iOS app store.

Home Depot has 100% of the lumber market in their lumber aisle. No other company can sell lumber in that aisle.