Apple’s App Store antitrust battle shows how a former Microsoft target became a global platform gatekeeper

The article traces Apple’s shift from a smaller company harmed by Microsoft’s dominance in the 1990s to a tech giant facing its own App Store antitrust scrutiny. It frames today’s fights over app distribution, fees, and developer restrictions as part of a decades-long debate over platform power.

Apple’s legal challenges reflect a broader regulatory turn against closed digital ecosystems that control access to customers and commerce. The outcome could reshape mobile marketplaces, forcing major platforms to loosen rules, reduce fees, or allow more competition from alternative stores and payment systems.