Controversies

EU opens antitrust investigation into Apple

Investigation

The European Commission opened an antitrust investigation into Apple, stating that Apple's restrictions could distort competition for music streaming services on Apple devices. The inquiry followed complaints about App Store rules and fees. The investigation concerns the competitive effects of Apple's practices in the music streaming market on its devices, as assessed by the European Commission.

Apple takes legal action against Prepear over its logo

Lawsuit filed

In 2020, Prepear said that Apple was taking legal action over its pear logo, arguing that the logo was too similar to Apple's logo and could harm Apple's brand. Prepear's founder said the company was facing a lawsuit. The dispute centered on the alleged similarity between the two logos and Apple's concern about harm to its brand.

Prepear said Apple was taking legal action over its pear logo, arguing that it was too similar to Apple's logo and could harm Apple's brand. Prepear's founder said the company was facing a lawsuit.

Microsoft Office for Mac vulnerability disclosed

Issue disclosure

A researcher reported a vulnerability in Microsoft Office for Mac that could allow an attacker to gain access to a Mac. According to the report, the vulnerability was fixed in the latest Office for Mac and macOS Catalina 10.15.3 versions, while users who do not update regularly may remain affected.

A researcher reported that a vulnerability in Microsoft Office for Mac could allow an attacker to gain access to a Mac. The article says the vulnerability was fixed in the latest Office for Mac and macOS Catalina 10.15.3 versions, while users who do not update regularly may remain affected.

Apple disputes Shanghai Zhizhen's Siri patent allegations

Company response

Apple issued a statement responding to patent allegations from Shanghai Zhizhen concerning its Siri technology. According to the statement, Apple said Siri did not contain the features covered by the patent and cited an independent assessment concluding that Apple had not infringed Shanghai Zhizhen's technology. Apple also said it was disappointed that Shanghai Zhizhen had brought another lawsuit and that it would present the facts to the court. The statement did not specify the outcome of the dispute.

In a statement, Apple said Siri did not contain the features covered by the patent and cited an independent assessment concluding that Apple had not infringed Shanghai Zhizhen's technology. Apple also said it was disappointed that Shanghai Zhizhen had brought another lawsuit and that it would present the facts to the court.

Email reveals Apple offered Amazon Prime Video a lower App Store commission

Issue disclosure

A publicly disclosed email showed that an Apple executive offered Amazon a 15% subscription fee for bringing Prime Video to the App Store, below Apple's stated usual 30% rate. The report said this appeared to conflict with Apple's public position of treating developers equally.

Apple terminates Epic Games' App Store developer account

Issue disclosure

Apple terminated Epic Games' App Store developer account amid a dispute between the two companies over App Store fees and rules. The termination prevented Epic Games from submitting new apps or updates to the App Store. It also prevented purchases of Fortnite through Apple's payment system.

Court issues temporary order in Apple–Epic Games dispute

Ruling

In the dispute between Apple and Epic Games, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a temporary restraining order blocking Apple from revoking Epic Games' developer account, while allowing Apple to continue barring Fortnite from its app store on the stated grounds that it violated relevant rules.

FTC prepares tentative consent order with Apple Korea

Settlement

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission said it had prepared a tentative agreement with Apple Korea under which Apple pledged 100 billion won and agreed to changes to its business practices. The agreement was not yet final: the FTC said it would gather stakeholder opinions and consult relevant authorities before deliberating.

South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission said it had prepared a tentative agreement with Apple Korea under which Apple pledged 100 billion won and agreed to changes to its business practices. The agreement was not yet final: the FTC said it would gather stakeholder opinions and consult relevant authorities before deliberating.

Stated objective. Correct its business practices in South Korea

Apple responds to Epic’s criticism

Company response

In August 2020, after Epic criticized Apple over its plan to cut off Epic’s developer account and access to iOS and Mac development tools, Apple issued a statement. Apple said that Epic had caused the situation and that it would not make an exception for Epic. The dispute centered on Apple’s plan to terminate Epic’s developer account and its access to the development tools, and Apple’s response framed the situation as one of Epic’s own making while stating that no exception would be made.

Apple issued a statement after Epic criticized Apple over its plan to cut off Epic’s developer account and access to iOS and Mac development tools. Apple said Epic had caused the situation and that it would not make an exception for Epic.

European Commission appeals Apple tax ruling

Lawsuit filed

The European Commission announced that it was appealing a court ruling that said Apple did not have to repay €13 billion in back taxes to Ireland. The Commission argues that the ruling contained errors of law; the appeal is before the European Court of Justice.

Apple apologizes for Siri police-station error

Company response

Apple issued an apology after its Siri voice assistant recommended police departments in response to a user query about terrorists. The company stated that it had fixed the issue and apologized for the error. The incident, reported on September 24, 2020, involved Siri directing users to police departments when asked about the location of terrorists. Apple did not provide further details on the cause of the glitch or the specific fix implemented. The apology followed public attention to the malfunction, which misdirected users seeking information about terrorists to law enforcement agencies instead.

After Siri recommended police departments in response to a query about terrorists, Apple said it had fixed the issue and apologized for the error.

Apple wins appeal against EU tax ruling

Ruling

In 2020, Apple won its appeal against a 2016 European Union ruling. The earlier ruling had found that Ireland provided €13bn in illegal tax benefits to the company. The appeal outcome reversed that finding. The event concerns a dispute over tax benefits granted by Ireland to Apple and the European Union's 2016 decision on the matter.

Italy fines Apple over advertising and commercial practices

Fine or penalty

In a controversy noted in Apple's brand history, Italy's Competition Authority fined Apple 10 million euros over promotional messages concerning the water resistance of several iPhone models. The authority described the issue as misleading advertising and commercial practices. The event was reported on November 30, 2020, with the source describing the penalty as a fine of 10 million euros imposed in Italy over misleading practices.

Apple says internal investigation found no wrongdoing

Company response

In November 2020, after Apple security chief Thomas Moyer was charged in an alleged bribery scheme involving concealed-carry permits, Apple stated that it had conducted an internal investigation and found no wrongdoing. The company's position was that its review did not identify misconduct in connection with the matter. The statement was reported in coverage of the case, which concerned allegations that concealed-carry permits were obtained through bribery. Apple's response focused on the results of its internal review rather than on the charges themselves.

U.S. Justice Department files antitrust lawsuit against Google

Lawsuit filed

The U.S. Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google concerning agreements under which Google paid to make its search engine the default on phones and other mobile-device browsers. The Department alleged that these agreements restricted competition. Google stated that the lawsuit had serious flaws. The event was reported in connection with Apple, as the agreements involved making Google's search engine the default on mobile devices.

Apple responds to criticism over App Store privacy labels

Company response

In December 2020, WhatsApp criticized Apple over the handling of new App Store privacy-label rules, alleging that the rules were applied inconsistently. In response, Apple said that its own apps would follow the same new App Store privacy-label rules. The dispute centered on the privacy labels introduced for the App Store and on whether Apple's own applications would be held to the same requirements as third-party apps. Apple's statement addressed that question by confirming that its apps would be subject to the same rules.

Apple said its own apps would follow the same new App Store privacy-label rules after WhatsApp criticized Apple for allegedly applying the rules inconsistently.

Euroconsumers filed Batterygate lawsuits against Apple in Spain and Belgium

Lawsuit filed

Euroconsumers filed class-action lawsuits against Apple in Spain and Belgium. The suits allege that Apple's iPhone performance-limiting measures amounted to planned obsolescence and unfair and misleading commercial practices; these are allegations, not a determination of wrongdoing.

Stated objective. Seek 60 million euros in damages on behalf of Italian consumers.

Roberto Escobar sues Apple over alleged FaceTime security vulnerability

Lawsuit filed

Roberto Escobar sued Apple for $2.6 billion, alleging that a person hacked his iPhone and found his address through FaceTime, despite an assurance that the iPhone X was secure. The allegations are reported in the lawsuit and are not established as findings.

Court finds Corellium's use of iOS to be fair use

Ruling

In Apple's copyright lawsuit against Corellium, the court found that Corellium had established fair use and that its use of iOS in connection with the Corellium Product was permissible. The article reports that Corellium won this step in the legal dispute.

Court allows Apple shareholders to pursue lawsuit over demand statements

Ruling

A U.S. district judge ruled that Apple shareholders could sue over CEO Tim Cook's statements about strong iPhone demand at a November 1, 2018 analyst call. The lawsuit alleges that Apple concealed a decline in iPhone demand in China; the cited report describes the ruling as allowing the claim to proceed, not as a finding on the allegation.