Regulators vs. AI giants: acquisitions under review, bundling complaints and market-power fights.
130 articles
Apple cut China App Store commissions to 25%/12%, saving developers over 60B RMB yearly amid antitrust pressure. Full savings up to 310B if alternative payments, links, and sideloading open like EU/Japan.
虎嗅 · 185d ago
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, known for fierce criticism of Google, signed a settlement term sheet prohibiting disparagement of Google until 2032. This follows Epic's antitrust battle against Google's Android app store practices, where Sweeney labeled Google 'crooked' and Android a 'fake open platform.' The clause effectively silences a prominent tech critic.
The Verge · 199d ago
Google and Epic Games have announced a settlement resolving their antitrust lawsuit over Google Play Store practices. The deal signals the end of the traditional 30% app store commission era.
Ars Technica · 199d ago
Google is experimenting with changes to its EU search results to prominently display top vertical search services (VSS) like Booking.com alongside its own, responding to EU antitrust scrutiny under the DMA. This follows a Commission finding that Google unfairly favored its services, risking fines up to 10% of global revenue.
Computerworld · 204d ago
Ctrip's stellar Q4 2025 earnings mask antitrust probes and AI threats flipping travel search to recommendation logic. Big tech like ByteDance and Alibaba use AI planning and low commissions to erode Ctrip's dominance.
虎嗅 · 204d ago
Google plans to test new search result displays in Europe for vertical sectors like hotels, flights, and restaurants. The changes will prioritize competitors more to avoid EU fines for self-preferencing its own services.
cnBeta (Full RSS) · 206d ago
Japan’s antitrust watchdog is investigating Microsoft’s local unit for possible anti-competitive practices involving the Azure cloud platform. Regulators suspect monopolistic behaviors in cloud services.
Bloomberg Technology · 206d ago
China's SAMR released anti-monopoly guidelines for internet platforms, targeting practices like 'whole network lowest price' as monopoly risks. It prohibits algorithm-driven price coordination, big data kill-mature pricing, blocking competitors, and predatory below-cost sales.
虎嗅 · 211d ago
Prosecutors from 33 U.S. states are seeking roughly $200 billion from Meta in a major lawsuit, while Meta estimates its potential exposure could reach $1.4 trillion.
虎嗅 · 31d ago
A judge ordered Google to make third-party app stores easier to find and install. Google has one week to comply with the order.
Engadget · 36d ago
A judge gave Google one week to address an allegedly anticompetitive app-store download process in Google Play. The ruling is expected to make third-party app stores more visible to Android users.
Ars Technica · 36d ago
The article examines why Ctrip reportedly received a 5.1 billion yuan penalty and 19 corrective requirements. It frames the action as part of a broader regulatory push against platform companies that use algorithms to consolidate market power.
虎嗅 · 36d ago
The U.S. Department of Justice is pushing a ban on Google paying browsers to remain the default search engine.
cnBeta (Full RSS) · 36d ago
Apple has proposed a framework to collect fees on digital purchases made through external links that bypass its in-app purchase system. Epic Games argues that the proposal exceeds the court’s guidance in their ongoing legal dispute.
The Verge · 37d ago
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Apple’s request to pause further proceedings over the commission it charges developers for sales outside the App Store.
Bloomberg Technology · 37d ago
Google has begun distributing rival app stores inside Google Play following an order from a judge. Aptoide is reportedly the first alternative app store to be hosted through the platform after Google's loss in its Epic Games legal battle.
Ars Technica · 40d ago
An antitrust tribunal has allowed a class action against Google to proceed in the UK. The case alleges that Google abused its dominance in search advertising, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of British businesses.
Bloomberg Technology · 45d ago
Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service has sued Apple for allegedly failing to preinstall Russian apps on iPhone and iPad devices. The cited apps include the RuStore app store and the Max messaging app, despite an earlier compliance warning.
IT之家 · 47d ago
Ad-tech company Teads has filed a lawsuit against Google and Alphabet in New York, seeking damages and other remedies. The case follows a U.S.
36氪 · 47d ago
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has filed a lawsuit to challenge the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Engadget · 67d ago
Oregon’s attorney general is demanding documents regarding lobbying efforts for the $110 billion Paramount-Skydance merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Bloomberg Technology · 73d ago
Trip.com Group projects its slowest revenue growth in over three years for the second quarter. The company is also bracing for a potential significant fine resulting from an ongoing antitrust investigation by Chinese regulators.
SCMP Technology · 86d ago
A US federal court has approved a $7.85 million settlement regarding allegations that Sony monopolized the digital PlayStation game market. The settlement impacts approximately 4.4 million US PlayStation owners.
The Next Web (TNW) · 92d ago
South Korea's antitrust regulator has rejected settlement bids from Baedal Minjok and Coupang Eats. Both companies face potential fines for alleged unfair business practices.
Bloomberg Technology · 93d ago
A Dutch non-profit organization is preparing to sue Valve, alleging that the company uses its market position to artificially inflate game prices on the Steam platform.
cnBeta (Full RSS) · 97d ago
The US Department of Justice has approved the $110 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery without conditions.
The Next Web (TNW) · 98d ago
Valve is currently facing legal challenges in the US and UK alleging that its Steam platform abuses its market power. The company denies these claims as it navigates potential regulatory scrutiny.
Bloomberg Technology · 110d ago
Bayer is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging anti-competitive practices in the GMO corn seed market. The suit claims Bayer blocked independent companies from using its NK603 germplasm after patent expiration.
36氪 · 115d ago
Prosus NV has formally requested that the European Union rescind a divestment requirement regarding its stake in Delivery Hero SE. This mandate was originally imposed as a condition for antitrust approval during a previous acquisition.
Bloomberg Technology · 117d ago
Tencent Holdings secured conditional approval from China's SAMR to acquire audio platform Ximalaya after a year-long antitrust review. The regulator imposed five conditions, including bans on exclusive deals and fee hikes, to mitigate potential negative market impacts.
SCMP Technology · 130d ago