Russia Opens Antitrust Case Against Apple Over Mandatory App Preinstallation
Russia's antitrust regulator has opened a formal case against Apple over the company's failure to preinstall state-backed apps on its devices, escalating a long-standing dispute. The case stems from a 2022 law requiring device makers to preinstall domestic apps. Apple has complied with some requirements but not others, citing sanctions.
Key points
- Russia's antitrust regulator has opened a formal case against Apple over the company's failure to preinstall state-backed MAX messenger and RuStore app marketplace on its devices.
- The case is a result of a 2022 law requiring device makers to preinstall domestic apps, which Apple has partially complied with.
- Apple removed the state-backed MAX messenger from the Russian App Store in June, citing sanctions.
- The dispute between Russia and Apple has been ongoing since 2019, when Russia passed a law requiring device makers to offer domestic apps on products sold in the country.
- Apple has halted product sales and exports to Russia since March 2022, following the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's antitrust regulator has taken a significant step in its ongoing dispute with Apple over the preinstallation of state-backed apps on devices sold in the country. The regulator has opened a formal case against Apple, citing the company's failure to comply with a 2022 law requiring device makers to preinstall domestic apps.
The law, which was passed in 2022, requires device makers to preinstall a list of domestic apps, including the state-backed MAX messenger and RuStore app marketplace. Apple has partially complied with the law, but has not preinstalled the required apps on its devices.
The dispute between Russia and Apple has been ongoing since 2019, when Russia passed a law requiring device makers to offer domestic apps on products sold in the country. Apple has taken various steps to comply with the law, including offering a list of recommended Russian-developed apps to users setting up a new iPhone in Russia.
However, the situation escalated further in June, when Apple removed the state-backed MAX messenger from the Russian App Store, citing sanctions. The move was seen as a significant escalation of the dispute between Russia and Apple.
The case is a significant development in the ongoing dispute between Russia and Apple, and is likely to have implications for the tech industry as a whole. The outcome of the case will be closely watched by industry observers and regulators around the world.
In related news, Apple has halted product sales and exports to Russia since March 2022, following the country's invasion of Ukraine. The move was seen as a significant response to the crisis, and has had a significant impact on the tech industry.
The dispute between Russia and Apple is a complex and multifaceted issue, with significant implications for the tech industry and beyond. The outcome of the case will be closely watched by industry observers and regulators around the world.
Sources
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