The European Commission has made a significant decision regarding Apple and Microsoft, stating that the two tech giants will not be categorized as “gatekeepers.” This conclusion comes after four market investigations following the enactment of the Digital Markets Act last year.
The Digital Markets Act aimed to regulate what are known as “Gatekeeper” firms, including Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. Initially, the European Commission identified 19 platforms that it believed should be considered “Gatekeepers” and subjected to the strictest regulations under the Digital Services Act. However, Apple and Microsoft swiftly appealed the decision, arguing that their services did not possess the size and power necessary to warrant the “gatekeeper” designation under the DMA.
In a statement from the European Commission, it clarified that after a thorough assessment of all arguments, it is no longer convinced that the named services of Apple and Microsoft meet the criteria to be considered gatekeeper services under the DMA. The Commission also emphasized that it will continue to monitor market developments related to these services and that the latest decision does not impact the companies’ other core platform services mentioned in the original decision.
Apple and Microsoft’s spokespeople responded to the decision with their respective statements. An Apple spokesperson highlighted that consumers have access to a wide variety of messaging apps and can easily switch between them. On the other hand, a Microsoft spokesperson expressed their commitment to working with the Commission and the industry to ensure compliance with the DMA for Microsoft’s other designated platforms.
While some may view the Commission’s decision as disappointing, others interpret it as a positive sign. Lazar Radic, an antitrust expert at the International Center for Law and Economics, commended the Commission for considering market realities and not simply labeling iMessage as a “gatekeeper” based solely on quantitative thresholds.
In conclusion, the European Commission’s recent ruling signifies that Apple and Microsoft will not be recognized as “gatekeepers.” This decision marks a significant outcome for the tech giants and raises important discussions about the criteria for labeling companies as gatekeepers under the DMA.
根据欧洲委员会的一项重大决定，苹果和微软不再被认定为“守门人”。此结论是在去年数字市场法案生效后进行的四项市场调查之后得出的。
数字市场法案的目标是对所谓的“守门人”公司进行监管，包括苹果、微软和亚马逊。最初，欧洲委员会确定了19个平台，认为它们应被视为“守门人”，并受到数字服务法案下最严格的监管。然而，苹果和微软迅速对此决定提起上诉，称他们的服务没有足够能力和影响力，不符合数字市场法案下“守门人”的定义。
在欧洲委员会的一份声明中，它澄清称根据对所有论点的深入评估，它不再确信苹果和微软的服务符合数字市场法案下被视为守门人服务的标准。委员会还强调将继续监测与这些服务相关的市场发展，并且最新的决定不影响原来决定中提到的公司的其他核心平台服务。
苹果和微软的发言人对这一决定作出了各自的回应。苹果发言人强调消费者可以访问多种即时通讯应用程序，并且可以轻松切换使用。另一方面，微软发言人表示他们致力于与委员会和行业合作，确保微软的其他指定平台符合数字市场法案。
尽管一些人可能认为委员会的决定令人失望，但其他人则将其解读为一个积极的信号。国际法律与经济学中心的反垄断专家Lazar Radic称赞委员会考虑了市场现实，不仅仅基于数量阈值把iMessage称为“守门人”。
总之，欧洲委员会的最新裁决意味着苹果和微软不再被认定为“守门人”。这一决定对于这两家科技巨头来说是一个重大结果，并引发了关于在数字市场法案下将公司标记为守门人的标准的重要讨论。
重点词汇定义：
1. 数字市场法案 – 欧洲委员会制定的法案，旨在监管数字服务市场中的大型平台，被定义为”守门人”。
2. 守门人 – 在数字市场法案中，指被视为具有影响力、控制力和规模的公司，需要受到严格监管以确保公平竞争。
相关链接：
– 欧洲委员会关于数字市场法案的链接
– 欧洲委员会关于数字服务法案的链接