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EU-based *aaS companies are practically nonexistent relative to US-based ones, so there's basically nothing holding them back from passing bills like this one g
by CaptainNegative 4y ago
EU-based *aaS companies are practically nonexistent relative to US-based ones, so there's basically nothing holding them back from passing bills like this one gerrymandered to (i) companies with a global market cap above €75B, (ii) with 45 million European users, (iii) and an included web browser or messaging app. If they had companies satisfying those criteria, they'd certainly see more pushback.
I personally like these changes, but the cynical forum shopping underlying the €75B threshold they picked is pretty nasty behavior, and I hope US lawmakers retaliate appropriately.
- Aperocky 4y agoSo it's basically thinly veiled protectionism.
- biztos 4y agoWould it not be possible to spin off “iPhone Europe PLC” which is worth less than the threshold? If it were truly independent then Apple’s “global market cap” would be irrelevant, and Cupertino could collect via IP licensing in Luxembourg taxed at 5%. [edited for clarity, I think]
- unity1001 4y ago> Would it not be possible to spin off “iPhone Europe PLC” which is worth less than the threshold? That kind of loophole-explotation floats only in common law. Not in civil law. The civil law would go down like a hammer on such heads.
- dx034 4y agoApple with just European users would be worth much more. If a company really wasn't that big just in Europe, there would be a case to exclude them. Apple certainly isn't one of them.
- antioppressor 4y agoRetaliate for what? There are zero rules and regulations in the US concerning these big behemoths. Those senate hearings are just laughingstock kinda theatricals.Just watch back the Microsoft Antitrust Depositions with Bill Gates.
- CaptainNegative 4y ago"No vehicle from an auto manufacturer with annual global revenue exceeding $150B USD is eligible for EV credits unless they also offer a hybrid or electric vehicle with MSRP $27000 or less." Oh, only the European VW and Daimler would be impacted? Such a shame.
- arlcode 4y agoWell that is a possibility. There is a crucial difference. Unlike Google and Apple the German Autos employ a lot of Americans and pay quite some taxes in America (sometimes in structurally weak places). That gives them more leverage than their Digital counterparts. Of course they are not doing that because they are more moral but because their products are bulky and need to be built locally.
- unity1001 4y agoHorrible. They will just divert all the sales to China then.
- kaashif 4y ago> I hope US lawmakers retaliate appropriately. The US has already won (and indeed was always winning) in terms of tech companies. There's nothing to retaliate against!
- dodobirdlord 4y agoThe EU has other industries.