Apple has been facing antitrust complaints for some time. The main issue here is whether the group (like other tech giants) has too much market power – a question that keeps competition commissions and politics in check in many countries. For example, the European Parliament decided to summon the CEOs of the GAFA companies (see) and obtain their opinions on this topic. At Apple, there is now increasing criticism that the company is arbitrarily removing applications from its own app store. A German developer who has submitted a complaint to the European Commission and other bodies is now also suggesting this.
Apple and Google removed “Corona Control Game”
Anyone who does not comply with the guidelines of the app store must expect to be referred to the platform for their use – there are many examples of this: the game being kicked out Fortnite attracted a lot of attention and resulted in a legal aftermath that continues to this day – and will probably not be over soon. Apple recently made some concessions: The company launched the “Small Business Program”, which benefits developers with annual sales of less than one million US dollars. With other requirements, the group remains tough: Loud Reuters wants Apple to have government approve applications if they deal with COVID-19. Google’s guidelines for the Play Store are similar. The developer and lobbyist Florian Müller failed with his game Corona Control Game on these conditions – and is now defending himself.
The app has been renamed – and is now available
Müller filed complaints against Apple and Google with the European Commission, the US Department of Justice and the competition authorities in Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Australia. Another complaint in India is being planned. In his opinion, the two providers inhibited innovations. The game is designed to promote compliance with the pandemic measures, the developer said. Further statements from the actors concerned are still pending. The real-time strategy game made it to the Play Store and App Store anyway – and is now trading there under the name Viral Days.