Apple and the Regulators

[Commentary] Mobile computers like Apple's iPhone and iPad are among the most transformative information devices since the personal computer. So it makes sense for the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to review Apple's policies governing programmers' access to its devices to see if they violate antitrust laws.

Apple now wants developers to write apps specifically for its gadgets, using approved computer languages. The company also changed its terms of agreement with developers to prohibit them from using software from third parties to "send Device Data to a third party for processing or analysis." Apple argues that these changes are legitimate efforts to offer consumers a flawless experience on its devices. This week, Apple's Steve Jobs declared that Adobe's widely used Flash platform "has had its day." Apple said the ban on sharing data with other programs was a way to protect the privacy of iPhone and iPad users. Yet regulators are concerned about Apple's pattern of behavior. The Justice Department is also investigating whether Apple is abusing its dominance in the digital music market to punish labels that do business deals with rivals like Amazon. The question is whether Apple's policies lock rivals out of fast-growing new markets.