◀ Anchor ▶
New iPhone advertisements that Apple is doing a lot these days.
It turns out that Apple has passed the cost of this advertising to domestic mobile carriers.
The FTC went into deliberation on Apple’s mischief, which has handed over not only advertising expenses, repair expenses, and various event expenses to mobile operators, but Apple voluntarily paid 100 billion won.
Thanks to this, the government’s sanctions were avoided, and controversy over whether it was actually giving Apple an indulgence.
Reporter Lee Moon-hyun on the report.
◀ Report ▶
“Iphone is still KT”
“IPhone 12 Pro meets SK Telecom’s 5G”
“The same iPhone 12 Pro is different with Uplus”
This is an advertisement for a new iPhone produced by three mobile operators.
The end of the ad is all the same.
As a result of the Fair Trade Commission’s investigation, news agencies had to get Apple’s approval not only for the content of this advertisement, but also for where to broadcast.
Even Apple’s self-produced advertisements cost the carriers.
[송상민/공정거래위원회 시장감시국장 (지난해 8월)]
“In the meantime, in the process of operating the advertising fund, Apple unilaterally instructs and interferes…”
It’s not just the advertising costs.
When a customer received a free repair at Apple’s service center, Apple received 40,000 won per unit from the carriers.
Apple’s gobbling has continued for more than 10 years since it first entered Korea in 2010.
However, the carriers said they could not protest.
This is because Apple has put in a’one-sided contract termination right’ that can cut off supply at any time while contracting with telecommunications companies.
[이동통신사 관계자]
“Apple has more power than you might think.”
After the FTC entered the deliberation process three years after the investigation began, Apple applied for a consent resolution, or voluntary correction, in June of last year.
The FTC accepted Apple’s request.
[조성욱/공정거래위원장]
“Rather than going through a long-term litigation, it may be a better alternative for consumers or counterparties to quickly improve the transaction order and seek relief for damages through consent resolution.
Apple has made a win-win fund of 100 billion won.
Established a manufacturing research and development support center for small and medium-sized businesses,
Established a developer academy to train 200 people per year,
We decided to cut the repair fee paid by iPhone users by 10%.
In addition, the provisions for unilateral cancellation of transactions and transfer of repair costs were deleted, and that they would also discuss advertising expenses with telecommunications companies.
Apple issued a statement and said, “We are pleased with the final approval of the agreement. We will expand investment to promote innovation and economic growth in Korea.”
This is Moon-Hyun Lee, MBC News.
(Video coverage: Lee Joo-young / Video editing: Komu-geun)
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