The noose is tightening around Apple. The apple brand is once again accused of anti-competitive practices, this time in the food sector. online storage.
In a class action filed in a California court, the firm Hagens Berman accuses Apple of having implemented illegal practices to ensure that iCloud established itself as the priority choice of cloud storage for users of its devices. Tens of millions of people may join the complaint in the United States.
Apple would restrict the capabilities of competing services
The Cupertino company would apply “ surgical technological restrictions » about the types of files that other providers like Dropbox can host on iPad and iPhone, the complaint document says. For example, only iCloud can store application data and device settings, which are essential when switching products.
In this way, users choose between the option “ unattractive » of juggling multiple cloud services to cover all their needs, and the convenience of iCloud’s full service. A practice deemed arbitrary by the complaint, which “ related » illegally Apple devices and its cloud offering.
Still according to the plaintiffs, the company’s strategy is paying off, because iCloud dominates the market with an estimated 70% share. “ Apple has raised iCloud prices to the point where the service is almost entirely profitable. Apple’s ability to maintain these prices is a testament to its monopoly power », they write.
Soon the end of impunity for Apple?
Regulatory pressure on Apple is growing. Strongly criticized for its compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) within the European Union, the firm also risks receiving a record fine of 500 million euros for anti-competitive practices in the music streaming sector. .
Its situation is also turbulent in the United States, where the Supreme Court forced it to allow developers to offer links leading to alternative payment methods. The Department of Justice (DoJ), the body responsible for monitoring unfair practices, is also considering indicting the company.
Source : Engadget
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