Apple will be investigated by the IFT and the Cofece, denounced by Mercado Libre for anticompetitive practices

 Apple will be investigated by the IFT and the Cofece, denounced by Mercado Libre for anticompetitive practices

Apple denounced by Mercado Libre for anticompetitive practices 

The complaint was filed by Mercado Libre -in Mexico and Brazil- for monopolistic practices in the distribution of applications for devices with operating system. 

The Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) and the Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece) notified the initiation of investigations against Apple for possible anticompetitive practices in its application store (apps).

The above is derived, according to national media, from a complaint filed by Mercado Libre – in Mexico and Brazil – on December 5 for monopolistic practices in the distribution of applications for devices with iOS operating system.

Mercado Libre explained that one of Apple's restrictions is the prohibition on apps distributing third-party digital goods or services such as movies, music, video games, books, written content, among others.

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Another restriction denounced by Mercado Libre refers that Apple only forces developers who offer digital goods or services within the apps to use only its payment processor, according to Reforma.

The IFT indicated that the defendants (Apple Services LATAM and Apple Operations Mexico) have the capacity to commit behaviors in the market of mobile operating systems integrated into mobile terminal equipment, with anticompetitive effects in those where application stores and mobile applications operate among other related markets, according to El Universal.

More complaints

Spotify Chief Executive Daniel Ek returned to the fray with his attacks on Apple, claiming in a series of tweets that the iPhone maker "gives itself every advantage while stifling innovation and hurting consumers."

Elon Musk, the world's richest person, last November criticized the fee Apple charges software developers — including its Twitter business — for in-app purchases, and posted a meme suggesting he was willing to "go to war" rather than pay for it.

Tim Sweeney, chief executive of Epic Games, the company that develops the video game "Fortnite," later tweeted that the fight against Apple's "monopoly" was "an American issue that transcends partisan politics."