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Apple and Amazon Confront Accusations of Failing to Comply with Spanish Antitrust Directive for Almost Two Years

Following a decision in 2023 that penalized Apple and Amazon for anti-competitive distribution terms, Spain’s competition authority is now indicating that the companies delayed compliance and may impose an additional penalty. Here are the specifics.

### A little context

In 2023, Spain’s Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) levied fines totaling €194 million (around $230 million) against Apple and Amazon due to anti-competitive behavior.

This case originated in 2018, when the two firms established a multi-national agreement that limited the sale of Apple and Beats products to authorized resellers of Apple. The arrangement – which was effective in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and India – led to the establishment of an official Apple Store on Amazon.

Moreover, the agreement limited advertising opportunities for Apple’s competitors on Amazon’s Spanish site when users searched for Apple products, allegedly obstructing over 90% of the existing retailers selling Apple devices on the platform.

At that time, the CNMC determined that the agreement was anti-competitive and imposed fines (€143.6 million on Apple and €50.5 million on Amazon), while also mandating the immediate removal of the offending clauses.

Both companies lodged appeals against the CNMC’s 2023 ruling with Spain’s High Court, resulting in a suspension of the original fine pending a verdict.

### Updates on the case

However, the companies’ appeal concerning the original fine did not free them from the requirement to eliminate the anti-competitive clauses.

Therefore, when the CNMC discovered that Apple and Amazon delayed their removal until May 2025, nearly two years after being instructed to act immediately, it initiated a separate investigation for non-compliance.

As reported today, this investigation has now been completed, and the results could lead to an additional penalty beyond the original one:

Last October, the regulatory body suggested commencing an inquiry into the companies’ inaction under the cease-and-desist directive until May 2025, when the clauses were removed. At the time, the regulator indicated potential signs of infringement due to non-compliance.

In a statement, Apple expressed its disagreement with the CNMC’s conclusions, asserting that it had consistently adhered to authority orders. The company also portrayed the matter as an initiative to combat counterfeit products rather than an effort to hinder legitimate competition on Amazon.

Amazon, for its part, also communicated to Reuters its disagreement with the ruling and plans to appeal, asserting that it would be contrary to its own interests to curtail the visibility of small and medium-sized sellers.

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Apple and Amazon Confront Accusations of Failing to Comply with Spanish Antitrust Directive for Almost Two Years
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Samsung Unveils ‘Finder’ Search Key in One UI 8.5, Comparable to Apple’s iOS Functionality

The Galaxy S26 trio has officially launched, unveiling One UI 8.5. While Samsung appears to be postponing its next significant Android upgrade until summer, this mid-cycle update introduces fresh visual features. Among these, one functionality in the S26’s software seemingly draws inspiration from a rival.

In a hands-on assessment of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, 9to5Google’s Ben Schoon noted a new search capability incorporated into the page indicators on Samsung’s home screen. This feature enables users to swiftly access information from both on-device content and the internet, including calendar events, pictures, notes, and documents. The incorporation of Galaxy AI enhances the search functionality, facilitating the discovery of specific information. This innovation is viewed as a smart use of space for a search shortcut, akin to Google’s integrated search bar.

However, this functionality closely resembles Apple’s Spotlight search featured on iOS devices, which similarly allows users to seek data both locally and online. The main difference lies in the nomenclature; Samsung has labeled its variant as “Finder,” entirely removing the ‘S’ branding from the search bar. This decision has sparked interest, as “Finder” carries historical significance, being part of Apple’s ecosystem since the debut of the first Mac over 40 years ago.

While the new search function is a positive enhancement for Samsung users, it also underscores a trend of adopting concepts from Apple, especially following the launch of the Galaxy S25 Edge. The choice of “Finder” could even be perceived as provocative, indicating a possible need for Samsung to rethink this branding in forthcoming updates.

For those keen on the Galaxy S26 series, pre-orders are now open on Samsung’s website, providing trade-in values up to $900 or $150 in store credit for additional devices without a trade-in.

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Samsung Unveils 'Finder' Search Key in One UI 8.5, Comparable to Apple's iOS Functionality
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New AAA Title Scheduled for Unique Day-One Release on Mac

### Crimson Desert Launches March 19 on macOS Alongside PC, PS5, and More

Next week signifies an important moment for Mac users with the introduction of several new MacBooks. However, an even more thrilling occurrence is on the way: the debut of *Crimson Desert*, a much-anticipated AAA game, which will arrive on March 19 with a same-day macOS launch.

#### A New Age for Mac Gaming

Traditionally, gaming on the Mac has been behind the PC market, with numerous AAA titles either unavailable on macOS or released significantly later than on other platforms. *Crimson Desert* stands out as a notable exception to this pattern, launching concurrently on macOS, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and beyond.

Crafted by Pearl Abyss, *Crimson Desert* is an open-world action-adventure game that has sparked significant enthusiasm among gamers. The game can be pre-ordered on Steam, with the Standard edition priced at $69.99 and the Deluxe edition at $79.99.

#### System Specifications

Before finalizing a purchase, prospective players should verify the system specifications to confirm their Mac can support the game. Apple has previously emphasized that *Crimson Desert* will leverage advanced software technologies, such as MetalFX Upscaling, to enhance performance and provide high-quality visuals. The game will also utilize the M3 and M4 chip families, featuring ray tracing capabilities for a captivating gaming experience.

#### Excitement and Upcoming Announcements

Apple revealed last summer that *Crimson Desert* would be included in a slate of nine new games heading to the Mac. Considering the company’s previous promotion of the title, it is probable that it will make an appearance again during the upcoming announcement of the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

As the release date draws nearer, many Mac users are excited to delve into *Crimson Desert*. Are you excited to play this game on your Mac? Share your views in the comments.

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New AAA Title Scheduled for Unique Day-One Release on Mac
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Where to preorder all of Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 phones

As expected, Samsung has taken the wraps off its flagship lineup for 2026. Introduced during the company’s recent Unpacked event, the new Galaxy devices – which include the standard S26, the larger S26 Plus, and the high-end S26 Ultra – will be available on March 11th. Preorders are now open ahead of launch, with pricing […]

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Where to preorder all of Samsung's new Galaxy S26 phones
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Investigation Reveals Possible Concerns Regarding Nevada’s EV Charging Stations

A Recent Study Indicates Nevada’s EV Charging Stations Could Be At Risk

You can’t operate a conventional car without fuel, and you can’t operate an electric vehicle without a charged battery. It’s fairly straightforward when you reflect on it, but whereas fuel stations are well-established landmarks globally, EV charging stations are comparatively scarce in certain regions of the United States. In states like Nevada, they are becoming increasingly uncommon.

In mid-January, Scott Allison, the proprietor of the website Scott Explains, released a personal analysis he conducted on the electric charging stations across Nevada. For those unfamiliar with the area, in 2015, the Nevada government initiated what they termed the Nevada Electric Highway project. The aim was to establish an infrastructure to support EV charging stations along various interstate routes, beginning with US-95. The initiative later expanded to include US-93, US-50, I-15, and I-80. However, Allison notes that from the state’s original 29 fast-charge EV stations, only seven remain operational, leaving significant service gaps that can extend up to 232 miles. Unless you have an electric SUV featuring one of the longest battery ranges available, you won’t be making that journey without a lengthy stop to recharge at a slower EV station. And no, enhancing the vehicle’s range by employing eco mode and utilizing regenerative braking won’t assist.

Once the funding ran out, the stations did too

Per Scott Allison’s research, the operators of the EV stations depended on grant funding to “acquire and install” the essential equipment. Given the extensive areas with minimal population (approximately 90% of Nevada’s landscape by his estimates), these financial aids were crucial for establishing these charging sites. While one EV station ceased operations in 2021, the majority closed down between March 2023 and October 2025 — a relatively brief timeframe. And since Allison disclosed his findings in January 2026 and only possesses data on when a charger was “last online” until December 2025, it’s feasible that his information is already outdated. This is partly because the data EV drivers utilize to locate nearby chargers is also outdated.

During his data collection for the blog post, he encountered a “very nice site” in Alamo, Nevada (not to be confused with Alamo, Texas). The site appeared to be well-kept and welcoming, except for one issue: The chargers were nonfunctional and have remained unplugged since March 2025. Based on comments from other EV users, this specific location was designated as “available” despite being disconnected from the grid. The entire northern half and most of the eastern section of Nevada are utterly devoid, leaving EV drivers without a dependable source of rapid charging.

Nevada’s electric highway is receiving some support, but it may not be sufficient

In the interest of fairness, Scott Allison acknowledged that there has been a significant effort to enhance the number of charging stations throughout Nevada, but this presents a double-edged sword. As he has elaborated, the initiatives are primarily concentrated around Las Vegas and throughout I-15 and I-80. While he remains hopeful that the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program might assist in improving the situation and aid the Nevada Department of Transportation in establishing a “reliable charging network,” he doesn’t anticipate much progress until late 2026.

But, you may wonder, what stops new EV charging station owners from running low on funds, leading to even more deserted locations? Allison pondered the same question. As previously mentioned, rural operators require government support to remain operational, and according to Allison, they must achieve an uptime of 97% (that is, they are operational and accessible 354 days a year). If they fail to meet this threshold, they do not merit government investment.

Ultimately, the future of Nevada’s electric highway may depend on the success of electric vehicles nationwide. If manufacturers can market EVs to a significant number of Nevadans and/or tourists visiting Nevada (and if they can resolve the semiconductor shortage), then Nevada’s roads might see sufficient traffic to warrant the maintenance of existing fast EV charge stations and the construction of new ones.

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Investigation Reveals Possible Concerns Regarding Nevada's EV Charging Stations
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