Spain launches investigation into Apple for ‘anti-competitive practices’ in App Store

The National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has launched an investigation against Apple after it suspected that the company was engaging in “anti-competitive practices” on the part of Apple. “impose unfair trading conditions” developers using the App Store.

As specified in the CNMC statement, the investigation was launched following large-scale “economic activity carried out in app stores.”

The company would be in breach of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) Competition Law (LDC). So if Apple is finally found to have used such methods, the company could face a penalty of 10% of your global incomeGiven Apple’s latest results, which show they earned around 354 billion euros, the fine could be 35,400 million euros.

This is not the first time Apple has faced an investigation of this style.

Further details of the investigation, which could last up to 24 months, are currently unknown. Spain, however, is not the only country that wants to fine the Cupertino company for abuses in some of its services. In fact, other countries They have already blamed Apple engaging in anti-competitive practices, including forcing developers to use their own payment gateways in their apps.

Apple has also faced accusations of charging high fees to developers who make in-app purchases. The company changed that requirement in response to complaints.

Europe, for its part, has launched an investigation into Apple violate the Digital Markets Actand, more specifically, for offering developers several offensive solutions. The European Commission believes that the company’s restrictions on app developers reporting offers or cheaper alternatives outside the App Store are not in line with the DMA. Europe also wants to investigate Apple new commission structure which the company is implementing for developers who want to distribute applications outside the App Store.