Apr 22, 2021 11:25:00

Severe opinions such as 'AirTag is a pakuri' and 'App Store is a bait-and-switch' erupted at Apple's antitrust hearing

The US Congress held a hearing on April 21, 2021

to examine alleged antitrust violations against Apple. The hearing was reportedly attended by smart tracker giant Tile , music streaming service Spotify , and Match Group executives from matching apps, who reportedly gave harsh opinions to Apple.

Apple antitrust hearing: Tile likens Find My network to a'hostage' program, App Store scam apps, more --9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/21/apple-antitrust-hearing-tile-spotify-more/

US senators question Apple and Google on app store dominance | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/tech-antitrust-klobuchar/update-1-top-antitrust-us-senator-to-examine-apples-airtag-announcement-idUSL1N2ME1YG

Congress is diving into the App Store fight --The Verge

https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/21/22396544/apple-app-store-google-play-monopoly-antitrust-bill-hearings

Apple Accused of'Power Grab' at Senate Hearing on App Stores --Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-21/spotify-match-tell-senate-apple-is-abusing-power-in-app-store

The US Senate Antitrust Subcommittee will hold a hearing on April 21 with the theme 'Antitrust Applied: Examining Competition in App Stores.' Did. At the hearing, Senators Amy Crobshire and Mike Lee , as well as Apple's Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) Kyle Andia, Tile's General Counsel, Kristen Dal, and Spotify's Chief Legal Officer. Mr. Oracio Gutierrez and Mr. Jared Sign, Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of Match Group, attended and had a question and answer session.

In his opening remarks, Apple's Andia said, 'Our App Store not only offers our customers the best experience, but also offers countless opportunities for app developers, and Cook said earlier. As you can see, the App Store has become a reliable and secure place to find and download apps, a service that has revolutionized the distribution of apps. '

Meanwhile, Senator Klobuchar, chairman of the Antitrust Subcommittee

, expressed concern that 'Apple is acting as an unjust gatekeeper and may be copying competitors' products.' did. Tile's Dal also said that Apple's just announced AirTags at the April 21st event was a copy of its smart tracker.

In addition, Apple's tracking app, Find My , is available from Google's Home app and Apple in that once a third-party company adopts the product, users will not be able to interact with the product with the third-party app. Pointed out that it is different from the previously released HomeKit. Mr. Dal accused Find My of the very strict terms of use, calling it a 'hostage program.'

Dal also said it's unfair that Apple hasn't opened U1 chip ultra-wideband (UWB) to third-party companies, which keeps competitors from competing with AirTags. I have.

by Hideya HAMANO

In addition, Spotify's Gutierrez, who has long been in conflict with Apple in the field of music distribution, said that the App Store suddenly changed the terms of the contract in favor of Apple after it locked in app developers. 'Apple's business model is equivalent to the classic decoy business,' he said. Match Group's Sign said the company pays the App Store $ 500 million a year, which is one-fifth of the company's total revenue. I appealed for height.

Sign also tried to add to the company's matching app, Tinder, 'a feature that alerts LGBTQ + users when they visit a dangerous country if they reveal their identity,' Apple said. He said the App Store review was unclear, revealing that he had blocked it as 'contrary to the spirit of the new rules.'

Senator Klobuchar has announced that he will hold similar hearings on Facebook, Google, etc. to examine the superiority and competition of both companies in the advertising market.