Can Apple be sued for its "anti-competitive" behaviours?

[lsquare]

I love competitions, but in the last couple of years, it seems to me that Apple is behaving a bit like Microsoft in the 1990s. I'm no lawyer here, but with Apple being so restrictive in terms of what applications can be deployed on their platform, can't they be sued for anti-competitive behaviour? IIRC, Apple doesn't allow programs that replicates abilities that are already present on its OS. So naturally you won't see any competition for the browser on the iPhone and iPod touch. Opera is trying to get its application approved, but I have my doubts that they will succeed. Isn't this a reminiscent of the browser wars of the 1990s between Microsoft and Netscape? At least Netscape had a browser on the platform, but Apple is refusing altogether to allow a third-party platform on its OS. I'm sure there are other examples of where Apple is behaving very much like Microsoft of the 1990s, but I can't think of it at the moment.

Does anyone here agree with me? Does anyone here think that Apple is going to be the target of lawsuits in the near future for "anti-competitive" behaviour? Let's hear your thoughts!

 

[TheStu]

It is only anti-competitive if Apple is THE major player in the market, they are not. They are growing, and they are big, but they are not the market. Microsoft was the market.

 

[nboy22]

I'm going to say no. Are you thinking this because Apple is, for the most part, the only competition Microsoft has in terms of operating systems and various other hardware and software? Meaning the numerous Linux operating systems don't have mp3 players, keyboards, and mice, etc. under their belt (as far as i know)

On the same train of thought as you, why aren't more companies sued for making software for windows, but not making it compatible with Mac?

 

[Matthiasa]

Yeah, if it had more then single digit market share.

 

[0roo0roo]

yup, they have a fraction of the market, the nicer fraction but still, you get a misperception from the coverage. most people don't have ipads, they have a cheapass netbook.

 

[SunSamurai]

Can i sue the OP for being stupid?

You are the product, the polar opposite of the apple fanboi. A tool just the same.

<----- Apple/Wintel forum

 

[OverVolt]

The only thing that needs to be sued for anti-competitive behavior are big banks right now.

Apple caters to god knows who. I think everything they make is pretty worthless. It's just too expensive. The UI is nice, their products look good, it's just the markup that I can't stand. I don't know how they are surviving in this economy.

 

[lsquare]

Can i sue the OP for being stupid?

You are the product, the polar opposite of the apple fanboi. A tool just the same.

<----- Apple/Wintel forum

I just want to have a constructive discussion on this issue. There's no need to be a dick.

 

[lsquare]

It is only anti-competitive if Apple is THE major player in the market, they are not. They are growing, and they are big, but they are not the market. Microsoft was the market.

Good point, but I'm talking about applications for the OS itself.

I'm aware that Apple is not the market leader in the smartphone business.

 

[lsquare]

The only thing that needs to be sued for anti-competitive behavior are big banks right now.

Apple caters to god knows who. I think everything they make is pretty worthless. It's just too expensive. The UI is nice, their products look good, it's just the markup that I can't stand. I don't know how they are surviving in this economy.

Well, not everyone is unemployed or having financial difficulties. We're not reliving the Great Depression here.

 

[TwinsenTacquito]

Considering we are just making up rules as we go, sure, why not? Sue them for being successful, too. If we're creating monopolies in some industries, we might as well help Microsoft with electronics. Fair competition? Fuck that shit, we need government intervention.

 

[SunSamurai]

I just want to have a constructive discussion on this issue. There's no need to be a dick.

Constructive discussion about an asinine question that only serves to reveal your bias.

:hmm: You've obviously fooled us all with your wit.

 

[lsquare]

Constructive discussion about an asinine question that only serves to reveal your bias.

:hmm: You've obviously fooled us all with your wit.

What bias? It's a legitimate question to ask and discuss about.

You're obviously fooling yourself here. STFU if you have nothing constructive to say. I don't need a permission slip from you on what threads I can and will create. Obviously you'd want nothing more than to be a troll.

 

[her209]

Apple doesn't have a majority of the smart phone market share despite what Mr. Jobs wants you to believe.

 

[So]

As everyone else has said, apple has a minority of the market. That said, their behavior is really much worse (for users) than most of what MS ever did. Woe be unto them if they ever do crack 50&#37; share in any market.

 

[Pliablemoose]

You have to be referring to the smartphone/mp3 market. Anyone that writes a program that works on Apples PCs can do so and Apple has no control over what you run on them.

As far as smartphones/Touches/iPad, maybe but its a stretch.

I appreciate the stand Apple is taking against Flash, 90&#37; of my browser crashes seem to be related to Flash.

 

[between]

...

 

[Emulex]

Yes; like microsoft - apple is getting to be a monster - they will get sued eventually. Like microsoft timing is everything if you want to pull in billions in fines.

But right now apple is small potatoes in the mobile market - RIM+NOKIA are the targets right now.

 

[VinylxScratches]

The only thing that needs to be sued for anti-competitive behavior are big banks right now.

Apple caters to god knows who. I think everything they make is pretty worthless. It's just too expensive. The UI is nice, their products look good, it's just the markup that I can't stand. I don't know how they are surviving in this economy.

They have no debt and create great products?

 

[Nothinman]

Constructive discussion about an asinine question that only serves to reveal your bias.

:hmm: You've obviously fooled us all with your wit.

So you honestly think it's a good thing that Apple won't let 3rd party browsers into the App Store?

 

[Eug]

I thought this was going to be about Apple's new draconian developer requirements in iPhone OS 4.0.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/apple-takes-aim-at-adobe-or-android.ars

3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).

Apple is not going to allow alternative development platforms for iPhone app creation. The claims by some are that it will be to ensure proper multitasking and for ensuring the apps meet proper iPhone design guidelines.

That seems like a bogus argument because there are tons and tons of crappy apps on the app store, and many used Apple's tools to create them.

Many have said that Apple effectively can't be sued because they aren't really a monopoly in the smartphone market. Maybe not, but I will point out that Apple OWNS the paid mobile app market. According to some surveys, Apple has over 99% of that market.

 

[BD2003]

If they continue on their current trajectory in the mobile market, they will most certainly have a date with the DOJ or EU, but they're going to haven to *completely* lock down the mobile market, whether it's iPhone or ipad. I can see that happening, but it will take a few years.

 

[Nothinman]

If they continue on their current trajectory in the mobile market, they will most certainly have a date with the DOJ or EU, but they're going to haven to *completely* lock down the mobile market, whether it's iPhone or ipad. I can see that happening, but it will take a few years.

I sure hope not, Apple is definitely not the lesser of the evils in any market.

 

[senseamp]

The apps market is overrated. I don't remember last time I used an application other than web browser or movie player on my PC. It's one reason Apple is doing well in laptop market, all you need are handful of core applications, and rest is in the cloud. Cloud computing is where we are going, and Apple is already behind due to lack of Flash support. These TOS are going to put it even further behind because these Flash Apps will not even be recompiled to be sold in the App store. Some may get recoded from ground up as Apple requires, most will not. Plus you got Android gaining steam just as Apple is pulling this stunt, perfect timing. Apple is pissing off developers just as a competing platform is emerging.
So if Apple wants to lock down their little sandbox, I say let them. They will eventually become the Sun Micro of phones, "proprietary" ecosystem with one hardware player vs the "open" Android one with many competing players constantly trying to outdo each other while ganging up on Apple. You saw where it got Sun, and where it got Apple with Mac vs. PC. Eventually, proprietary ecosystem gets marginalized.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Not in response to any particular post in this thread, but it would be nice to have a couple Apple forums (maybe a general, a hardware & a software forum) so this kind of discussion doesnt get lumped in with the other threads..