關 鍵 詞: |
數位經濟;數位平臺;間接網路效應;相關市場;App商店平臺 |
中文摘要: |
數位經濟成為全球經濟發展重心的關鍵因素之一,便是「數位平臺」的崛起。傳統市場主要關注「單邊市場」,而數位平臺則是以「多邊(包含雙邊)市場」為主,加諸數位平臺具備的重要特徵,包括用戶群組之間強大的網路效應及價格結構之不對稱性,使得假設獨占者測試法暨假設獨占者漲價測試等歷來用以界定市場的固有標準,難以契合數位平臺衍生爭議之相關市場判斷需求。現時國際上積極構思可能的解決方案,諸如適度修正固有標準使其適用於數位市場、以「交易型平臺/非交易型平臺」作為判斷基準,亦有主張市場界定應容許一定彈性甚或無須明確界定市場等論點可資留意。殊值關注者還包括司法實務提出的觀點,美國聯邦加州北區地區法院在 Epic Games v. Apple 一案中,針對 App 商店平臺引發的限制競爭問題,未採取原、被告主張,根據合理替代分析將相關市場界定為「行動遊戲交易市場」,2023 年 4 月聯邦第九巡迴上訴法院裁定指出地區法院在相關市場界定上存在錯誤,惟其並不影響 Apple 並未構成限制競爭之結論。本文詳加分析 Epic 案在 App 商店平臺市場界定上之可能課題,包括主、後市場連動理論之適用疑義,同時討論將相關市場界定為「所有付費 App 交易市場」之合適性。與此關聯之延伸思考,還包括行動經濟相關市場界定問題處理上,「Apple iOS」應否單獨討論,現時國際上普遍認為 iOS 與 Android 係同一市場之競爭者,但主要國家已開始正視 iOS 之封閉性平臺特質,並有基此明言 Android 及 iOS 可視為不同市場之例,殊值留意。
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英文關鍵詞: |
Digital Economy;Digital Platform;Indirect Network Benefit;Relevant Market;App Distribution Platform |
英文摘要: |
The digital economy has become the focus of global economic development and one of the key factors is the rise of digital platforms. Several important characteristics of digital platforms, including strong indirect network effects and asymmetry in the price structure between user groups, have made it difficult for the inherent criteria used to define the relevant market to be applied to digital platforms. At present, several possible solutions have been highlighted, such as a modest revision of the inherent standard to make it applicable to the digital market, distinguishing between “transaction platforms” or “non-transaction platforms” as the preliminary judgment standard, and there being no need to clearly define the relevant market, etc. The views of the courts on this issue are also important. In the Epic Games case, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California did not take the view of either the original plaintiff or defendant and defined the relevant market as the “Mobile Game Trading Market.” The Ninth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s view but found that it had erred in defining the relevant market. This paper analyzes the Epic case’s potential issues in defining the App Distribution Platform Market, including the applicability of Single-Brand Aftermarkets. The author also believes that the relevant market in this case may be defined as the “all paid Apps trading market.” One reason is that other paid apps have faced the same controversy as the Epic case/Game Apps, while a second reason is that studies have pointed out that the proportion of “Non-game” Apps may surpass Game Apps in the future. The extended thinking related to this topic also includes whether “Apple iOS” should be discussed separately when dealing with the problem of market definition in the mobile economy. At present, it is generally believed that iOS and Android are competitors in the same market. However, more and more countries are emphasizing the walled garden characteristics of iOS, and there are examples that clearly state that Android and iOS can be regarded as different markets.
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目 次: |
一、前言 二、數位平臺發展與競爭法相關市場界定課題 (一)數位平臺概念、類型與特徵 (二)相關市場界定之固有標準與適用難題 (三)對應數位平臺之市場界定方法討論 (四)小結 三、App 商店平臺相關市場界定爭議與指標案例分析 (一)行動經濟浪潮與 App 商店平臺 (二)備受關注之Epic Games v. Apple 案 (三)法院在相關市場界定之觀點分析與本文意見 (四)延伸思考:相關市場界定上「Apple iOS」應否單獨討論 四、結語
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