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Antitrust regulation of product ecosystems: The case study of Kaspersky Lab. – Apple Inc

Author

Listed:
  • Andrey E. Shastitko

    (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia)

  • Natalia S. Pavlova

    (The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), Moscow, Russia)

  • Nadezhda V. Kashchenko

    (AO Kaspersky Lab, Moscow, Russia)

Abstract

Implementation of the ecosystem business model can not only bring significant gains to a company, but also entail additional risks, including those of violating antitrust laws. The article analyses the Apple Inc. ecosystem, which has recently become the subject of a number of complaints from independent software developers and of antitrust investigations. The study shows how a unique position within the ecosystem can lead a company to market dominance. As a result, actions aimed at creating preferential conditions for the company’s services can be interpreted as restricting competition through fostering a discriminatory environment and preventing independent software developers from entering the market. The analysis is based on public information about Apple’s actions against third-party developers and the recent investigation into the company’s conduct in response to the complaint by Kaspersky Lab. The reason for the initiation of legal proceedings was Apple’s actions setting new rules for the App Store and resulting in improper functioning of the parental control application “Kaspersky Safe Kids”. Methodologically, the study relies on ecosystem theory and the theory of industrial organization. The main research method is case study. The research demonstrates how Apple’s actions can be interpreted in terms of such concepts as essential facilities, tying practices, aftermarkets, and leveraging of market power. These concepts are applicable to Apple’s conduct, including the closed type of the ecosystem built by the company.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrey E. Shastitko & Natalia S. Pavlova & Nadezhda V. Kashchenko, 2020. "Antitrust regulation of product ecosystems: The case study of Kaspersky Lab. – Apple Inc," Upravlenets, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 11(4), pages 29-42, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:url:upravl:v:11:y:2020:i:4:p:29-42
    DOI: 10.29141/2218-5003-2020-11-4-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jonathan Wareham & Paul B. Fox & Josep Lluís Cano Giner, 2014. "Technology Ecosystem Governance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(4), pages 1195-1215, August.
    2. Golovanova, S., 2013. "Competition Restriction Problem in the Markets Linked to the Markets of Essential Facilities," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 20(4), pages 110-132.
    3. Thierry Isckia, 2009. "Amazon's evolving ecosystem : a cyber-bookstore and application service provider," Post-Print hal-00464419, HAL.
    4. Andreas Hein & Maximilian Schreieck & Tobias Riasanow & David Soto Setzke & Manuel Wiesche & Markus Böhm & Helmut Krcmar, 2020. "Digital platform ecosystems," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(1), pages 87-98, March.
    5. Fransman,Martin, 2010. "The New ICT Ecosystem," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521171205.
    6. Fransman,Martin, 2010. "The New ICT Ecosystem," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521191319.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    closed ecosystem; mobile devices; antitrust law; abuse of dominance; discrimination;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • L41 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Monopolization; Horizontal Anticompetitive Practices

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