Commission

Today the European Commission (EC) has fined Apple a whopping €1.8 billion for abusing its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps to iOS and iPadOS users through its App Store. The Commission found that "Apple applied restrictions on app developers preventing them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside of the app", so-called 'anti-steering provisions'. This, according to the EC, is illegal under EU antitrust rules. The…

Apple Inc. has been fined nearly $2 billion by the European Commission for allegedly abusing its “dominant position” in the overseas music-streaming app market, according to media reports. The judgment against the American tech giant is the result of an antitrust case filed by its Swedish audio-streaming competitor Spotify. Apple’s platforms restrict competitors’ ability to “inform users of Apple devices about alternative, cheaper options to purchase music available on the internet outside of the Apple…

While some of the apps delisted from Google Play Store have started complying with the internet giant’s billing policies, founders and executives at Indian internet firms said the fight between them and Google is far from over.On the one hand, Indian companies have called for a “strategic response” from the government on what they claim to be monopolistic behaviour by the US tech major. On the other hand, Google has said its actions against the ten companies are only to make the ecosystem “fair” for a “vast majority” of…

The Los Angeles Ethics Commission has unanimously voted to reject the proposed settlement by the city with Les Moonves, the former president and CEO of CBS. The settlement, made public last week, stated that Moonves tried to influence now-retired LAPD Captain Cory Palka amid a sexual assault investigation against the executive. The legal documents noted that Moonves agreed to pay an $11,250 fine on Feb. 5 for violating the city’s ethics code. Moonves “admits that he violated City law by aiding…

The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) has referred itself to the Charity Commission after an open letter urging it to do so was signed by leading authors including Ian McEwan and Alan Hollinghurst.The RSL, a charity which elects fellows based on literary merit, has been subject to criticism over recent months, including questions over changes to the way that fellows are elected, and the recent postponement of its annual magazine Review. Former editor Maggie Fergusson told the Times that the issue was pulled from print due…

The European Commission is trying to rally support from EU countries to endorse a watered-down political agreement on the rights of workers at Uber, Deliveroo and other online companies, according to a document seen by Reuters on Thursday.The move by the EU, which proposed the draft rules in 2021, came ahead of a meeting of ambassadors from the 27 EU countries on Friday to vote on the provisional deal clinched by Belgium, current holder of the EU presidency, with EU lawmakers last week.Elevate Your Tech Prowess with…

Google Ads will phase out commissions (per stay) and commissions (per conversion) bid strategies for hotel ads in October.  Instead, the platform is introducing target Return on Ads Spend (tROAS) for hotel campaigns, along with an expanded Performance Max for travel goals, as alternative bid strategies. Why we care. Advertisers will need to shift bid strategies before the sunset date to avoid disruptions so that campaigns can continue to serve as usual. What are commissions (per stay)? Commissions (per stay) is…

Spotify said on Friday that Apple's new plan to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) is "a complete and total farce."From early March, developers will be able to offer alternative app stores on iPhones and opt out of using Apple's in-app payment system, which charges commissions of up to 30%, under the bloc's new rules.Elevate Your Tech Prowess with High-Value Skill CoursesOffering CollegeCourseWebsiteIIM KozhikodeIIMK Advanced Data Science For ManagersVisitMITMIT Technology Leadership and…

Realtors are being deluged with class-action lawsuits threatening to upend the traditional real estate compensation system, with 16 “copycat” cases filed in the wake of a mammoth $1.78 billion verdict handed down last October against top industry groups. Two California lawsuits filed this month — one in Los Angeles and one in Sacramento — brought to 20 the number of federal court cases seeking to end requirements that home sellers pay agents for the buyers. The lawsuits name the National Association of Realtors and more…

Well-kempt mansions dot Montview Boulevard in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, but the two-story Italianate house at the corner of Elm Street stands out. It’s surrounded by metal fencing, and the property’s rusty wrought-iron gate and overgrown lawn signal the property’s decay. When Denver couple Mark and Marianne Rinehart purchased the 90-year-old house for $2.5 million in September 2022, they envisioned their “forever home,” with a large yard for their two young sons to romp around. But, then, they consulted builders…