MEP Andreas Schwab (PPE) has asked the European Commission to assess the Alliance for Open Media (AOM) under EU competition rules, warning that the consortium's royalty-free licensing model and market power threaten European innovation and established standardisation processes. Schwab's written parliamentary question, submitted on 1 July 2026, targets AOM's structure, which includes five gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and its requirement that all members contribute patents royalty-free, effectively setting the price of innovation at zero. He argues that AOM undercuts existing media standards and removes incentives for independent European audio/video research and development, ultimately threatening Europe's wider FRAND-dependent innovation base.
The question contains three concrete asks. First, Schwab requests that the Commission assess AOM under Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, focusing on the mandatory free licence, coordinated imposition of AOM technologies on third parties, and efforts to tip the market. Second, he asks whether gatekeepers' mandates to use proprietary AOM formats on their platforms are consistent with their interoperability and self-preferencing obligations under the DMA. Third, he seeks the Commission's assessment of the long-term effects of the AOM model on European innovation and competition, and asks whether the Commission will protect established standardisation processes from displacement by closed, proprietary consortia.
The question references a 2022 Commission preliminary review that closed without a merits decision, noting that AOM's behaviour has increased since. Schwab's intervention signals concern that the current regulatory framework may be insufficient to address the competitive dynamics of industry consortia that combine standard-setting with platform power. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it sees grounds for formal proceedings or legislative action to safeguard European standardisation and FRAND licensing.
European audio/video technology developers could face reduced incentives for R&D if AOM's royalty-free model becomes dominant, potentially stifling innovation. EU consumers may benefit from lower costs for media technologies but could face reduced choice and quality if alternatives are squeezed out. Gatekeeper platforms subject to the DMA may face additional compliance scrutiny if the Commission finds that mandating AOM formats violates interoperability or self-preferencing rules. European standards development organisations risk being sidelined if proprietary consortia like AOM displace formal standardisation processes, undermining the FRAND-based ecosystem that has supported EU industry.