EU Closes Investigation into Apple’s E-Book Rules After Complaint Withdrawn

BRUSSELS, November 22, 2024 – The European Commission has officially closed its four-year investigation into Apple’s rules governing e-book and audiobook app developers after the complainant withdrew its case against the tech giant.

The investigation, which focused on whether Apple’s policies unfairly restricted competition, was concluded without a ruling on whether the company’s practices comply with EU competition laws. The European Commission stated that the closure of the investigation does not imply that Apple’s conduct is in line with EU rules. The identity of the complainant remains undisclosed.

This marks the end of a lengthy probe that had attracted significant attention from industry stakeholders, particularly those concerned about Apple’s control over its App Store and its impact on app developers.