Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), is again being investigated by the authorities of a country, but this time for unfair competition, the American company having problems this time in Japan. More specifically, Apple is being investigated by the authorities because it allegedly forced Yahoo! Japan to close a streaming platform for games because it would somehow compete with the App Store.
Yahoo! launched a platform in Japan that allowed smartphone users to play a variety of games online, in HTML5, and those from Apple got angry and pressured to shut it down. Yahoo! closed the platform, but also filed complaints with the Japanese authorities against those from Apple, and they are doing their job, and are starting to do the necessary investigations.
Apple is being INVESTIGATED for Unfair Competition
Yahoo! created that platform as an alternative to the App Store, demanding less money from developers for publishing games on that platform, probably affecting Apple's earnings. Those from Square Enix created a special game for the platform, but most likely Apple "convinced" them that it is in their interest to remain connected to the App Store for the future.
"Japan is investigating allegations that pressure from Apple forced Yahoo Japan to pull back from a game platform that competes with the App Store. The Fair Trade Commission and the industry ministry began receiving reports from Yahoo last fall about issues surrounding its Game Plus platform. Yahoo told multiple business partners that it was forced to cut back because of pressure behind the scenes from Apple."
Complaints from Yahoo! Japan were made when the company belonged to the US company, but the second was sold to Verizon, and the first remained with Softbank, an important Apple partner. In this idea, it is very possible that the complaints will be withdrawn, but those from Apple are left with a tarnished image of forcing partners to do it in such a way that it earns as much money as possible.
