A new Japanese law aims to foster competition in the smartphone app market by allowing third-party app stores and billing providers to operate on Apple iOS and Google Android platforms. This legislation, known as the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software, was announced by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC).
In a significant move, the US government has initiated a comprehensive legal battle against Apple Inc., accusing the tech behemoth of monopolistic practices within the smartphone industry that purportedly suppress competition and inflate costs for consumers. The Department of Justice, in collaboration with 16 state and district attorneys general, has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit charging Apple with monopolization or attempts at monopolization of the smartphone market.