Last November, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA),
Britain's competition regulator, launched a full investigation into cloud
gaming and mobile browsers on concerns about restrictions by iPhone-maker Apple
and Google.
U.S. tech giants, including Google's owner Alphabet and
Apple, are drawing increasing attention from competition regulators in
Brussels, London and elsewhere.
Lawyers representing Apple said in a notice filed with the
Competition Appeal Tribunal on Friday that the CMA's investigation should be
reviewed. In its argument, lawyers said that the CMA had missed timing
requirements linked to the launch of an investigation.
"Apple seeks 1) an Order that the MIR Decision is
quashed. 2) a declaration that the MIR Decision and market investigation
purportedly launched by reference to it are invalid and of no legal
effect," the filing with the Appeal Tribunal showed.
Responding to the appeal, the CMA said on Friday it would
defend its position and continue to progress its work in line with the statutory
timetable.
"We opened this investigation to make sure that UK
consumers get a better choice of mobile web services and that UK developers can
invest in innovative mobile content and services," the CMA said in an
emailed statement.
There is due to be a preliminary hearing on the matter on
Tuesday, according to the Competition Appeal Tribunal website.
Back in November 2022, the CMA said responses to its
consultation from June revealed "substantial support" for a fuller
investigation into the matter and how Apple restricts cloud gaming through its
app store.
"Many UK businesses and web developers tell us they
feel that they are being held back by restrictions set by Apple and
Google," said Sarah Cardell, interim chief executive of the CMA, in a
statement at the time. © Reuters
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