Google, Meta, Qualcomm team up to push for open digital ecosystems

Opera

13/12/2023 07:00

By Foo Yun Chee
       BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Alphabet's  GOOGL.O 
Google, Meta Platforms  META.O , Qualcomm  QCOM.O  and seven
other tech companies on Wednesday teamed up to push for open
digital ecosystems in response to new EU tech rules in a move
that may also take the edge of possible future legislation.
    Calling itself the Coalition for Open Digital Ecosystems
(CODE), the group said it wants to promote more open platforms
and systems to boost growth and innovation in Europe.
    The group said it will work with academics, policymakers and
 companies on digital openness and how this can be achieved in
Europe "through the implementation of the Digital Markets Act
(DMA) and in future EU regulatory framework developments".
    The DMA requires gatekeepers -- tech giants that control
access to their platforms -- to allow third parties to
inter-operate with the gatekeeper's own services and allow their
business users to promote their offer and conclude contracts
with their customers outside the gatekeeper's platform.
    "We have had a number of conversations in the past few
months about what 'good' looks like when it comes to digital
ecosystems in Europe, what fosters innovation, and what will
positively impact competitiveness. We think openness is the
crucial element," Lynx founder Stan Larroque said in a
statement.
    Other members of the group are Chinese smart devices maker
Honor, China's Lenovo  0992.HK , French augmented reality
start-up Lynx, U.S. telecoms equipment maker Motorola  MSI.N ,
UK electronics maker Nothing, Norwegian tech company Opera and
German messaging services provider Wire.
    The Coalition said it aims to open up digital ecosystems
through cross-industry collaboration and promote seamless
connectivity and interoperable systems, among others.

 (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
 ((foo.yunchee@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 585 2866; Reuters
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