Windows giant proposes its own ‘Open App Store Principles’ in race against regulation
Microsoft, a monopolist of yore that recently disallowed third-party browsers from handling a protocol associated with its Edge browser, has pledged to uphold a set of Open App Store Principles for the Microsoft Store on Windows and future game marketplaces. « We have developed these principles in part to address Microsoft’s growing role and responsibility as we start the process of seeking regulatory approval in capitals around the world for our acquisition of Activision Blizzard, » said Microsoft president Brad Smith, in a blog post announcing Redmond’s commitments. Smith acknowledges that regulators around the world are looking to make app markets more competitive, and says that Microsoft wants to demonstrate that it’s committed to adapting. In other words, the Windows giant really wants its $69bn deal for Activision Blizzard to be approved (and not do an Nvidia-Arm.) But Microsoft also sees an opportunity to level a playing field dominated by Apple and Google. Lawmakers in the US and elsewhere are currently debating legislation that would change the competitive landscape for app developers, the mobile market in particular. Last week, for example, the US Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Open App Markets Act to limit the control that large app store operators like Apple, Google, and Microsoft have over third-party software makers. At watchdog agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, there’s renewed focus on preventing mergers and acquisitions that stifle competition.
