Yazılar

China Considers Investigating Apple’s App Store Policies

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China’s antitrust regulator is reportedly preparing to investigate Apple’s business practices, specifically focusing on its App Store policies and fees. According to Bloomberg News, the investigation would examine Apple’s commission on in-app purchases, which can reach up to 30%, as well as restrictions on external payment services and alternative app stores. This move comes shortly after China imposed tariffs on U.S. goods, including products from companies like Google, as tensions between the two countries escalate.

Shares of Apple dropped 2.6% in U.S. premarket trading following the news. Discussions between Chinese regulators and Apple executives, as well as app developers, have reportedly been ongoing since last year.

This potential probe mirrors similar actions against other U.S. companies, including Google, which is also under scrutiny by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation. Apple has not yet commented on the situation.

 

US DOJ Sues to Block Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s $14 Billion Juniper Deal

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks, arguing that the deal would reduce competition in the networking equipment market. According to the complaint, the merger would result in just two companies—HPE and Cisco Systems—controlling more than 70% of the U.S. market for networking gear.

Shares of both HPE and Juniper Networks fell by about 2% following the announcement. This antitrust lawsuit is the first to be filed under the current administration.

In response, the companies argue that the deal will not harm competition, claiming that it would bring together two complementary networking solutions that can better compete with established global players. They also pointed to Juniper’s innovations, which have driven HPE to lower its prices and invest more in innovation.

The DOJ’s complaint specifically noted that Juniper’s competitive pressures have forced HPE to offer discounts and develop new features to maintain market relevance. The companies are prepared to defend the merger in court, with pretrial and trial proceedings expected to take place over the next eight months, before the deal’s walk-away date in October.

While the DOJ moves forward with its challenge, both the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority and the European Union have already approved the acquisition.

 

US Supports Musk’s Argument in Lawsuit Against OpenAI

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U.S. antitrust regulators have weighed in on Elon Musk’s lawsuit seeking to block OpenAI’s transition into a public company, reinforcing his claims that OpenAI and Microsoft engaged in anticompetitive practices. Although the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) did not express a direct opinion on the lawsuit, they provided legal analysis that backs Musk’s argument ahead of a crucial hearing in Oakland, California.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI and owns AI startup xAI, alleges that OpenAI violated antitrust laws by requiring investors to avoid funding rival artificial intelligence companies and by sharing board members with Microsoft, which is also named in the lawsuit. The lawsuit asserts that these actions harmed competition in the AI market.

In response, OpenAI dismissed the lawsuit, claiming that Musk’s allegations lack evidence and are merely harassment. The company also argued that the claims regarding board member affiliations were irrelevant, as two former Microsoft-affiliated board members—Reid Hoffman and Deannah Templeton—are no longer associated with OpenAI.

However, the FTC and DOJ emphasized that even former board members could still possess sensitive competitive information, which could have implications for antitrust law violations. The authorities also stated that a group investor boycott, as Musk alleges, could be illegal even if the organizer was not a direct investor, reinforcing Musk’s claims of anticompetitive conduct.

The FTC is currently investigating partnerships in AI, including the collaboration between OpenAI and Microsoft, to determine if there have been violations of antitrust or consumer protection laws.