Assuming the backlash carries through further EU responses (which regardless of opinions on what it should do, will need to do if it wants to remain credible on

Assuming the backlash carries through further EU responses (which regardless of opinions on what it should do, will need to do if it wants to remain credible on this issue): 1. Apple knows this. It knows it will be asked to do more. 2. In the short term, they will drag their feet to maintain benefits of the status quo as long as possible. 3. But more importantly longer term, they expect the final result to be more in their favor as a result of the foot dragging. Negotiating 101. Fight a losing battle hard. So your adversary can claim and perceive eventual victory, with much less to show for it than if you had simply complied. Also to protect other areas from pushback, always be difficult. Don’t encourage further incursions. And there is always the chance your adversary will succumb or be distracted in the meantime. Any fine would have to be at least tens of billions of dollars to hurt Apple. In a few years, at least $100 billion. Not a likely first or second response. So for now, Apple hasn’t lost anything. Their crafted half hearted “compliance” helps them more than it hurts them. Nobody at Apple is losing any sleep.