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The article focuses on the loosening of Apple's control over its App Store, particularly in Europe. Topics include Epic Games launching an alternative app store, Spotify redirecting users to its website for subscriptions, and the broader implications of European regulatory changes on Apple's ecosystem.

Phil Schiller, Apple's former chief marketing officer and a close associate of Steve Jobs, has become a vocal defender of the company's ecosystem amid increasing criticism from software developers and regulators. Apple's vision of a seamless and secure electronic device ecosystem has come under attack for its fees and control over external software. Schiller has been the public face of Apple's defense, stating that the company's goal is to make the App Store the safest and best place for users to get apps. Despite retiring from his role in 2020, Schiller continues to advocate for Apple's approach. [Extracted from the article]

The European Union has initiated investigations into Apple, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Google under its new digital-competition law. These probes are the first under the EU's Digital Markets Act, which aims to promote competition in digital advertising, online search, and app ecosystems. The investigations will focus on issues such as app-store rules, personal data usage, and compliance with new regulations. If found in violation, the companies could face fines of up to 10% of their worldwide revenue. The EU intends to conclude the investigations within the next year. [Extracted from the article]

Apple has announced that it will allow iPhone users in Europe to download apps directly from a developer's website, as part of its efforts to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act. This move is seen as a concession to regulators and aims to make it easier for smaller rivals to compete. However, developers will still need to pay Apple a fee for each download above a certain threshold, unless they qualify for a waiver. Apple has also stated that it will allow developers to set up alternative marketplaces exclusively for their apps and provide more flexibility in designing promotions that direct users to external webpages. This announcement follows Apple's recent reversal of its decision to prevent Epic Games from building its own app store in Europe. [Extracted from the article]

European officials are concerned about the Biden administration's continuation of protectionist trade policies that were initiated by Donald Trump. Despite President Biden's declaration that "America is back," he has maintained trade barriers, excluded European companies from subsidies, and imposed tighter restrictions on Chinese access to American technology. European diplomats and officials are questioning whether the U.S. can be relied upon to support the rules-based trading system, leading to fears of economic conflict between the two allies. While the EU has taken steps to support its own industries, it remains hesitant to embrace the U.S. approach, which is seen as similar to tactics favored by Beijing. [Extracted from the article]

The diplomat said Li was told "it's impossible to split Europe from America" and that Europe wouldn't withdraw support from Ukraine. "Russia's brutal war against Ukraine is making the context for the EU-China relationship more complex", Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU's trade chief, said Thursday. [Extracted from the article]

For the companies, the EU approval could make it easier for Microsoft to present the U.K. decision as an outlier, including during a U.K. appeal process, some antitrust lawyers and analysts said. Keywords: wsjcorp; Computers/Consumer Electronics; Software; Applications Software; Consumer Goods; Computing; Games Software; Leisure/Travel Goods; Technology; Regulation/Government Policy EN wsjcorp Computers/Consumer Electronics Software Applications Software Consumer Goods Computing Games Software Leisure/Travel Goods Technology Regulation/Government Policy N.PAG N.PAG 1 05/17/23 20230516 NES 230516 European Union decision comes after rejection from U.K. regulator threatened the deal's prospects An EU antitrust regulator approved Microsoft's $75 billion deal to buy games company Activision Blizzard on Monday, a win for the two companies after a U.K. regulator rejected the deal in April. [Extracted from the article]