APPLE FEE PRACTICES
Stop AI from Eroding Your Brand
Artificial intelligence is changing how companies operate and how customers experience their brands. New research suggests that companies with lower levels of “brand debt”—the trust, relevance, and consistency lost when products, experiences, and decisions drift away from customer expectations—are significantly more likely to outperform their peers. Drawing on a benchmark of 60 companies and lessons from Bose’s digital transformation, the lessons here are that managing brand debt should become an enterprise-wide priority rather than a marketing exercise. As AI increasingly shapes customer interactions, companies that manage brand debt deliberately will be better positioned to strengthen trust, sustain growth, and preserve competitive advantage
US green-card freeze hits TCS, Infosys, Wipro; GTRI warns of wider IT curbs
The US government has suspended eight technology companies, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCLTech, from the PERM green-card sponsorship programme, raising concerns over potential restrictions on foreign tech workers. A Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) report warns that curbs could extend to H-1B hiring and skilled-worker mobility. The move may push Indian IT firms to diversify markets and expand domestic delivery.
Can’t replace US workers with foreign ‘indentured servants’: US after suspending PERM green card program
US Vice President JD Vance defended the suspension of eight technology firms, including Microsoft, TCS, Infosys and Wipro, from the PERM green card programme, accusing companies of replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labour.
Google fights £1 billion UK lawsuit over app store fees in latest Big Tech case
The case - brought on behalf of around 20 million consumers who bought apps through Google's Play Store, or paid for in-app purchases and subscriptions between 2015 and this July - is the latest brought in Britain against Big Tech.
In 2015, a Chicago entrepreneur invested $5,000 in a CFO side hustle; years later, it became a seven-figure business with 16 staff
John Frank started Third Road Management after finding an opportunity to offer strategic, financial and operational aid to small and mid-sized organizations. What started as a side hustle in 2014 led to the company's formal launch in 2015, funded with an initial amount of $5,000 as investment. Frank later moved into the business full-time and established a multi-seven-figure company focused on fractional CFO, Controller and Bookkeeping services.
Lessons from Chinese AI Firms on Owning Customers’ Habits
As U.S. AI firms compete in an escalating race for superior models, bigger benchmarks, and more advanced features, Chinese companies are pursuing a fundamentally different strategy: embedding AI into users’ everyday habits. The authors argue that this “habit moat” approach may prove more durable than competing on raw capability alone. Whereas Western firms position AI as a destination consumers consciously visit, companies like Alibaba integrate AI into existing routines such as shopping, payments, food delivery, and travel booking, reducing friction until using AI becomes automatic behavior. Once AI capabilities become “good enough,” marginal technical improvements matter less than becoming the default path through recurring customer tasks. The authors outline four strategic imperatives for Western leaders: focus on behavioral cues rather than feature gaps, subsidize customer behavior instead of subscriptions, embed AI invisibly into existing workflows, and optimize for repeat usage rather than first-time adoption. The central warning is stark: AI may not replace employees first—it may instead capture the critical customer moments businesses currently own.
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IT firms cut H-1B reliance; Anthropic flags AI risks in IPO filing
Top Indian IT firms have sharply cut H-1B visa filings as rules tighten. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Horoscope Today, September 21, 2026: Cancer Could Unlock Business Growth, Leo May Need to Cut Spending and Virgo Eyes Long-Term Wealth
The Moon shifts into Capricorn, while the Sun and Mercury remain in Virgo to bring a strong focus on planning and detailed execution. This movement helps Cancer sign solid commercial agreements and vendor contracts, guides Leo to audit expenses and streamline daily routines, and encourages Virgo to focus on disciplined wealth creation and long-term goals. Venus in Libra ensures smooth interactions and balanced relationships.
Lawyers square off in fight over voice data used to train AI
Ross Kimbarovsky of Loevy & Loevy is representing the plaintiffs - a group of journalists, podcasters and audiobook narrators - in the proposed class action lawsuits. He said each of the defendants faces hundreds of millions of dollars in potential damages.
Apple says UK App Store proposal amounts to price regulation
In a submission to Britain's Competition and Markets Authority, the iPhone maker said proposed "steering" requirements would go beyond promoting competition and give the regulator a "highly intrusive" role in managing its business.
App developers urge EU action on Apple fee practices
A group of app makers and consumer bodies has urged EU regulators to act against Apple, arguing that its revised fees still breach digital competition rules. They say European developers face higher costs than US rivals, despite a recent American court ruling limiting Apple’s charges.
Tinder owner Match says Apple’s 30% app store fee will limit growth in India
Match, owner of Tinder, urged India's antitrust body to fine Apple and halt its anti-competitive practices. Match argues Apple's up to 30% fee stifles revenue and growth for its apps. Apple, facing global scrutiny, denies wrongdoing and claims it's a small player in India.
Apple loses bid to pause app store reform order in Epic Games case
Apple in a statement said it was "disappointed with the decision not to stay the district court's order, and we'll continue to argue our case during the appeals process." The judge on April 30 ordered Apple to end several practices that she said were designed to circumvent the injunction, including a new 27% fee Apple imposed on app developers when its customers complete an app purchase outside the App Store.
China mulling probe into Apple's app store fees, practices: Report
The development comes a day after China announced a wide range of measures targeting US businesses including Google, farm equipment makers and the owner of fashion brand Calvin Klein, minutes after new US tariffs on Chinese goods took effect.
China mulling probe into Apple's app store fees, practices
China's antitrust regulator is preparing for a possible investigation into Apple's app store fees and policies, including its commission on in-app purchases. This action follows China's recent measures targeting several U.S. businesses, coinciding with the imposition of new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.
Mark Zuckerberg slams Apple over iPhone sales slump, but who’s really paying the price?
Mark Zuckerberg has criticised Apple for stagnating in innovation and operating a closed ecosystem that restricts competition. Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast, he highlighted issues like declining iPhone sales, high App Store fees, and limited third-party integration. He also criticised Apple’s Vision Pro headset and accused the company of prioritising profit over collaboration. These comments reflect the ongoing rivalry between Meta and Apple, rooted in their contrasting approaches to innovation, privacy, and market competition.
CCI orders unusual recall of reports on Apple antitrust probe
The move will prolong a procedure, begun in 2021 and already marred by delays, that centres on Apple's alleged abuse of its dominant position in the apps market to force developers to use its proprietary in-app purchase system, at a fee of up to 30%.
Apple is first company charged under new EU competition law
Apple is facing intense regulatory scrutiny globally, with charges in the EU, legal battles in the US, and regulatory actions in Britain, signaling a turbulent period for the tech giant in various markets.
Apple wants 'speculative' consumer lawsuit over crypto tech dismissed
Apple asks U.S. judge to dismiss consumer lawsuit accusing it of unlawfully barring cryptocurrency transaction apps. The lawsuit claims Apple's restrictions on cryptocurrency tech harm competition and increase fees on Venmo and Cash App. Apple argues there are no unlawful app rules or business agreements.
Dutch regulator disputes Apple's commissions in dating app case
The Dutch consumer watchdog is challenging the fees that Apple charges dating app providers in the Netherlands as part of its long-running case against the U.S. technology company over the dominance of its app store, according to a filing seen by Reuters.
Apple to ask US Supreme Court to undo App Store order in Epic Games case
Apple said in a court filing it will ask the justices to take up its appeal of a ruling on Friday by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that kept in place most of the order issued in 2021 by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
Apple threatening to ban Twitter from app store: Elon Musk
Elon Musk accused the company of “hating” free speech, adding that Apple has “mostly stopped advertising” on the app.
Google, Apple facing anti-competitive complaint in Mexico
The complaint was brought to Mexico's telecommunications regulator IFT yesterday by Mony de Swaan Addati, who once headed the former telecommunications federation that was later replaced by IFT.
Apple to face EU antitrust charge over NFC chip: Report
The iPhone maker has been in European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's crosshairs since June last year when she launched an investigation into Apple Pay.
Spotify unimpressed by Apple’s deal to ease App Store restrictions
Apple Inc.'s agreement to ease App Store restrictions for small developers does not address the basic aspects of their "anti-competitive and unfair practices", Spotify says in a tweet.
Apple WWDC: Update brings FaceTime to Android devices, users will be able to add multiple attendees to video calls
Users will be able to store state-issued identification cards digitally on iPhones.
Apple developers look for App Store changes at annual conference
The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, being held online for the second year because of the pandemic, typically attracts thousands of app developers, many of whom are hoping the company will be listening to their concerns
US senators question Apple and Google on app store dominance
The hearing came a day after Apple said it would begin selling AirTags in direct competition with Tile, which has sold a similar tracking device for more than a decade.
Apple prepares to defend allegations by Epic Games, will say it faces competition in video game market
Epic argued that Apple has monopoly power over its distinct mkt for software developers.
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