The Commission Sends Statement of Objections to Apple Over Practices Regarding Apple Pay

Rekabet Hukuku

The European Commission (“the Commission”) has informed Apple of its preliminary view that it abused its dominant position in markets for mobile wallets on iOS devices.

By limiting access to a standard technology used for contactless payments with mobile devices in stores (‘Near-Field Communication (NFC)' or ‘tap and go'), Apple restricts competition in the mobile wallets market on iOS.

The Commission takes issue with the decision by Apple to prevent mobile wallets app developers, from accessing the necessary hardware and software (‘NFC input') on its devices, to the benefit of its solution, Apple Pay. 

The Commission's preliminary view is that Apple's dominant position in the market for mobile wallets on its operating system iOS, restricts competition, by reserving access to NFC technology to Apple Pay. This has an exclusionary effect on competitors and leads to less innovation and less choice for consumers for mobile wallets on iPhones. If confirmed, this conduct would infringe Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU') which prohibits the abuse of a dominant market position.

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Zumbul Attorneys at Law

info@zumbul.av.tr