Rumour: European Union links up with FTC in Apple antitrust probe

European Union regulators are said to be co-operating with the US Federal Trade Commission in a bid to investigate Apple's decision to block Flash on iOS.

According to a report by The New York Post – the same publication that originally detailed the FTC's potential probe into Apple's operations – the EU is eager to establish whether Apple's stance on Adobe software essentially harms competition in the smartphone market.

It's claimed that Apple's move to block Flash – used by many developers when working on titles for other smartphone platforms – forces studios to support iPhone exclusively.

The cost of working on more than one version of the same title can be too much for many independent outfits to bear.

Consumer concern

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has previously claimed the company's position regarding Flash is motivated by concern for its consumers, with Jobs stating devices that run the software are hampered by its archaic set-up.

"Symantec recently highlights Flash for having one of the worst security records in 2009," he stated in an open letter published back in April.

"We also know first hand that Flash is the number one reason Macs crash."

Regardless, it's believed Adobe filed a complaint to the FTC after its planned Flash-to-iPhone converter had to be canned.

Adobe took the decision following a change to Apple's developer agreement that rules out apps ported from other languages or development environments.

Neither the EU or FTC have officially acknowledged either investigation exists (the FTC never publicly confirms any cases it's involved with), however, the paper says it expects their joint probe could last for another four to six months.

Back in July, reports suggested EU commissioner Neelie Kroes was concerned Apple's operations were constraining consumers, forcing them into particular software purchases because of the handsets they own.

The comments were made as part of an EU initiative called the Digital Agenda, designed to draw up new boundaries regarding antitrust rules.

[source: New York Post]