Apple found in breach of EU competition rules

Tech giant Apple has been charged with breaking new European Union laws over allowing small companies to compete on its app store.

The European Commission, which is also the EU's antitrust and technology regulator, said Apple’s rules did not comply with the Digital Markets Act “as they prevent app developers from freely steering consumers to alternatives channels for offers and content”.

“For too long Apple has been squeezing out innovative companies — denying consumers new opportunities and choices,” said Thierry Breton, the European commissioner responsible for digital markets.

The company has 12 months to comply before it faces fines of up to 10% of its global revenues for failing to comply.

In addition, the commission said it had opened a new non-compliance procedure against Apple over concerns its new contract terms for third-party app developers also fall short of the DMA’s requirements.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com